Doctors at Park Hospital, Mohali, raise alarm on the rising breast cancer trend during Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Chandigarh:
Breast cancer has now become the most common cancer among women in India, according to experts from Park Hospital, Mohali. During a press conference held on Thursday to mark Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a team of senior doctors highlighted the alarming rise in breast cancer cases across the country.
The panel included Dr. (Brig.) Harinder Pal Singh, Director of Medical Oncology; Dr. Vijay Jagad, Senior Consultant, Surgical Oncology; Dr. Muveen Kumar Mittal, Consultant, Medical Oncology; Dr. Ashish Kamara, Consultant, Nuclear Medicine; and Dr. Jobanjeet Kaur, Consultant, Radiation Oncology.
Park Hospitals, one of North India’s largest super-specialty networks, runs 19 hospitals with 3,500 beds, 800 ICU beds, 14 cath labs, 45 modular OTs, and over 1,000 doctors.
Dr. Harinder Pal Singh explained that for more than four decades, cervical cancer was India’s leading cancer among women. However, breast cancer has now overtaken it as the most prevalent and deadly disease. Each year, around 2.1 million women are affected globally, and 190,000 new cases are reported in India alone. He noted that female hormones like estrogen and progesterone play a crucial role in the development of breast cancer.
Dr. Muveen Kumar Mittal added that a few decades ago, most breast cancer patients were above 50. Today, nearly 50% of new cases occur between the ages of 25 and 60, showing a clear shift toward younger women.
According to Dr. Vijay Jagad, breast cancer now accounts for 27% of all cancers in Indian women. He stressed that early detection through self-examination and mammography can save lives.
Dr. Jobanjeet Kaur pointed out that over 60% of Indian women are diagnosed at stage three or four, as per WHO data. Late detection reduces survival chances and limits treatment options.
Dr. Ashish Chadha, Group CEO (North), said Park Grecian Hospital, Mohali, is the first in Tricity to offer comprehensive cancer care.
Symptoms to Watch For:
Lumps in the breast, nipple discharge, thickened skin, redness or swelling, inverted nipple, or lumps in the armpit.
Major Risk Factors:
Family history, age, obesity, poor diet, lifestyle habits, radiation exposure, and prolonged estrogen exposure.
