‘Early screening can prevent breast cancer among women’
Published: September 18, 2020
NAGPUR: Despite flaunting the pink ribbon and trying to raise awareness among women, breast cancer has emerged as the most prevalent form of the disease, both among urban as well as rural women.
Medicos say that this failure is because most patients report the disease when it is in an advanced stage. They also point out that Indian women are still hesitant to discuss about breast cancer, even with their doctors.
With new treatment methodologies coming in, though, doctors hope to combat the rise. They are of the opinion that women themselves need to be vigilant to help them in this cause. Different aspects of this dreaded disease were discussed by doctors at the ongoing international cancer conference, ICON.
“Many times women do not consult their doctors despite having doubts about the disease affecting them. Even the young, urban women whom we expect to be vocal about their problems, are shy to ask to clear the doubts that prevail,” said Dr Kumar Prabhash of Tata Memorial Hospital. He said that this scenario is undergoing change but at a very slow pace.
Another oncologist from Mumbai, Dr B K Smruti, also had similar experience with women. “Though screening can help in early detection and result in better treatment, most women do not go in for it as regularly as they are advised to. Even when they do find lumps in their breasts, the absence of any pain makes them believe that it is harmless. The high-risk individuals may also go in for preventive drugs,” she said.
“Many of the factors that lead to the disease are avoidable like early marriages, giving birth late in life, avoiding breastfeeding and such causes,” opined Dr Shyam Agrawal, director of Navodaya Cancer Hospital and Research Centre, Bhopal. Though hormone therapy is being used more often these days, Dr Agrawal warns of its dangers. “Only 5% of Indian women would actually benefit from it as not all of them would have the genetic receptors that make this therapy a success. For 85% of the women, indiscriminate hormone therapy would be wasteful and possibly toxic,” he said.
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