Doctors warn of rising breast cancer cases in India

Addressing a press conference, Dr (Brig) Harinder Pal Singh, director medical oncology at Park Hospital, Mohali, said that two main female hormones — estrogen and progesterone — and their interplay have a major influence on cancer formation.

A few decades back, breast cancer was seen only after the age of 50, and the number of young women suffering from this disease was lesser, said Dr Vijay Jagad, senior consultant, surgical oncology.

Currently, it is becoming more common in the younger age group and almost 50 per cent of all cases are in the 25-60 age group, said a press release.

Breast self-examination and mammography are simple techniques to deduct cases at early stages, pointed out Dr Jobanjit Kaur consultant radiation oncology. He added that the number of cancer cases are expected to rise to 29.80 million by 2025.