Breast cancer cases on rise, screenings must: Experts

Bhanu P Lohumi

Tribune News Service

Shimla, July 8

The number of breast cancer patients has surpassed those suffering from cervix cancer in the state. This was stated by experts at an awareness programme organised by Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC) and Fujifilm on Saturday.

The thrust was on early detection of the disease for better treatment and cure, creating awareness among women to go in for breast screening.

“The response has been poor and during the past three years, only 1,700 screenings have been done, out of which 160 were found to be positive. Awareness among women is the need of the hour," Dr Sanjiv Sharma, head, department of radiology, IGMC, said.

The charges are nominal (Rs 100) and in most cases, it is done free of cost.

Dr Manish Gupta from Cancer Hospital, Shimla, said the younger generation was becoming prone to breast cancer in the state and that maximum patients were in the 41-50 age-group, while globally, the highest number of patients was between 51 and 60 years.

A decade ago, the number of cervix cancer cases was higher in the state, but now patients suffering from breast cancer are more. There were 201 cases of breast cancer in 2016 against 191 of cervix cancer, while the comparative figures were 227 and 119 in 2012, he added.

The causes are giving birth at old age, less breast feeding, lack of exercise, obesity and alcohol consumption. Gupta said the incidence of breast cancer was higher at 95 per cent in developed and 84 per cent in underdeveloped countries.

In Himachal, out of 2,135 new cancer patients in 2014, 172 suffer from breast cancer and 59 are in the 41-50 age-group and 45 in the 51-60 age-group.

Mandi district has the highest number of patients (43), followed by Shimla (35), Kangra (31), Solan (16), Kullu (13), Hamirpur (12) and Bilaspur (11), while no such cases were detected in Kinnaur and Lahaul -Spiti. Five cases surfaced in Chamba, Una and Sirmaur.

Managing director, Fujifilm, India, Haruto Iwata said: "We believe in enabling doctors with superior technology which can help save lives and encourage patients to become more engaged in their own care."

Box

Mandi has highest number of cases

Breast cancer cases have surpassed cases of cervix cancer

Most patients are in the 41-50 age-group

Mandi has the highest number of patients (43), followed by Shimla (35), and Kangra (31)