Breast Cancer in India

Narjis Sayeed

Breast cancer is a major health problem worldwideAccording to WHO:

A woman dies of breast cancer somewhere in the world every minute;

Breast cancer is the most common malignancy among women worldwide;

Breast cancer is thought to be due to genetic, lifestyle, and environmental causes; the latter two are subject to change.

Stages of Breast CancerStage 0: Non-invasive breast cancer, no indication of the

cancer or cancerous cells breaking out from origin pointStage 1: Invasive breast cancer, the cancerous cells are

breaking through to or invading surrounding normal tissue

Stage 2: 2a No tumor but there are cancerous cells in the lymph nodes, or there is a tumor that has grown.

Stage 2: 2b Cancerous cells in the lymph nodes and /or tumor has grown.

Stage 3: Cancer has spread to lymph nodes near breastbone and chest wall

Stage 4: Cancer has spread (metastasized) to other parts of the body.

FactsIncidence of breast cancer in India has

increased among women in their 30s and 40s compared to older women, and they are being diagnosed at later stages

Cancer has become more aggressive in younger woman than older woman, advancing through the stages faster.

Breast cancer cases have been increasing in India in the past decade, due to increase of urbanization.

Risk increases as a woman has her first child after turning 30.

Incident of breast cancer in India

According to the Times of India, as of last year the rate of breast cancer in India was 11.1 (per 100,000 for age standardized mortality rate), and the number of deaths was 53,592.

Incident number of breast cancer rates in 2001 and 2016 national levels respectively: 89,914 140,975

Breast Cancer in Andhra PradeshBreast cancer is the most common type of

cancer in many cities and the second most common in rural areas.

Andhra Pradesh was the fifth highest state with deaths due to breast cancer, with 3863 deaths in the year 2010.

Rates of young women being diagnosed is increasing in Andhra Pradesh

Trend of Breast Cancer among different age groups in India in 2008 and 25 years back

Breast Cancer in India is considered to be a “Western Disease”“Women in high-income countries like

the United States and the United Kingdom are benefiting from early cancer screenings, drug therapies, and vaccines,” said Dr. Rafael Lozano, Professor of Global Health at IHME [Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluation] and one of the co-authors of the Lancet study, “We are seeing the burden of breast and cervical cancer shifting to low-income countries in Africa and Asia. This is the one of the early signs of the emerging threat of non communicable diseases in these countries.”

Some steps have been taken Statewide Breast Cancer

Awareness Month to promote screening

Breast Cancer screening initiative: 5000 health workers trained by the State of Andhra Pradesh to perform clinical breast examinations

Breast Cancer screening program in Gandhi Medical Hospital/College, Hyderabad, AP, began in April 2006 and ended on February 2007

Gandhi Medical Hospital/College ProgramBiggest government hospital in state of Andhra PradeshBreast Cancer Screening Program in the Women’s Clinic

from April 2006 to February 2007Hospital and clinic staff were trained according to WHO

guidelinesConducted screenings and awareness programs in the

hospital and clinics of the hospitalAll women who came to the Women’s Clinic were

screened; screenings were not conducted in other areas of hospital or clinics;

171 completed screenings were considered adequateOf these, 26 showed malignancy, according to the

findings of this program.

Policy ProposalAs of 2011 there are no policies regarding

breast cancer.I propose three policy action changes:1. Doctors are required to inform their female

patients about the option and need of breast cancer screening.

2. Data concerning breast cancer diagnoses and screening should be collected for current and future use.

3. A certain amount of health care funding will be used for education programs and breast cancer screening; and financial support will be provided to those unable to have a breast screening done.

Policy Paramours in the House of the PeopleShri Sukender Reddy Gutha- for

providing better health care for people in rural areas.

Shri Madhu Goud Yaskhi- founded the Madhu Yaskhi foundation, part of which is providing funding to private health care facilities in rural areas.

Smt. Meira Kumar - held a position on the committee for education and health programs for women.

Policy Paramours in the Council of StatesShri Raashid Alvi (Member of

Parliament)- for equitable access to health services

Shri Y.S. Chowdary (Member of Parliament)- Rise in cases of diseases afflicting the young female population, breast cancer included.

Dr. T. Subbarami Reddy (Member of Parliament)- investment in health education

StakeholdersGovernment of

Andhra PradeshFamily, Welfare,

Health department of Hyderabad

World Health Organization

Cancer foundation of India

CPAA (Cancer Patients Aid Association)

PassagesUshalakshmi

Breast Cancer Foundation

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