Policy must catch up with breast cancer burden, Pg11

Key Highlights:

• Breast cancer incidence in India has more than doubled from 13 per 1 lakh women in 1990 to 29.4 per 1 lakh women in 2023.
• Mortality rates have increased significantly from 8.9 to 15.5 per 1 lakh women, a 74% increase.
• Cases are rising, especially in cities and among women aged 20-54 due to lifestyle and reproductive changes.
• Mammography rates are low, with only 1.3% of women aged 45 and above undergoing the procedure.

Detailed Insights:

• Advancements in surgery and therapies have improved survival rates if breast cancer is detected early.
• India needs to replicate the success of high-income countries in stabilizing mortality rates through widespread screening and public awareness.
• Delayed childbirth, lifestyle changes, and metabolic risk factors like high blood sugar and obesity contribute to the increase in breast cancer cases.
• A targeted screening approach, identifying women at higher risk through family history and reproductive factors, is recommended.
• India's digital health infrastructure and experience with polio eradication and COVID-19 vaccination can be leveraged for expansive, decentralised public health programs.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Age-standardised Incidence: A rate adjusted to account for differences in age distribution across populations.
• Mammography: An X-ray imaging technique used to screen for breast cancer.
• Metabolic Risk Factors: Conditions like obesity and high blood sugar that increase the risk of diseases.