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Amid rising breast cancer cases in India, health experts are urging women to perform monthly breast self-examinations as a crucial step towards early detection and improved treatment outcomes. This simple practice can help women detect breast cancer at an early stage, significantly boosting the chances of successful treatment.
Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer affecting women globally, including in India. Data from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) revealed that breast cancer accounted for 28.2% of all female cancers, with an estimated 216,108 cases by 2022.
“You don’t have to go outside for common indications or symptoms; all you need is three fingers and three to four minutes of your time, once a month,” said Dr. Garima Daga, Senior Consultant, Surgical Oncology at Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute and Research Centre. “Once you become accustomed to it, it usually only takes three minutes. No one else is required; just a mirror and your hand. If you know how your breasts normally feel, you can easily notice any changes or abnormalities early.”
Dr. Daga emphasized that any changes in the breast during self-examination, such as thickening of the skin, ulceration, nipple discharge, or a lump, should be promptly evaluated by a healthcare professional. The most common symptoms include a lump or any discharge from the nipple, particularly bloody or greenish discharge.
The importance of early detection has been highlighted by the experiences of several Indian celebrities, including Tahira Kashyap and Mahima Chaudhry, who have survived breast cancer. More recently, television actress Hina Khan announced her diagnosis with stage three breast cancer and is currently undergoing treatment.
Alarmingly, breast cancer, which was previously more common among the elderly, has seen a significant rise in younger women over the past three decades, affecting those in their 40s and 50s. Experts attribute this trend to genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors, stressing the importance of early detection alongside lifestyle changes such as maintaining a healthy body weight, eating a balanced diet, and regular exercise.
“Self-breast examinations monthly would go a long way in early detection,” said Dr. Manjula Rao, Consultant, Oncoplastic Breast Surgeon at Apollo Proton Cancer Centre in Chennai. “The aim should be to detect it at a very early stage because there is no pain in breast cancer in the initial stages. It helps to detect cancerous lumps at a much smaller size, hence allowing earlier detection, less severe treatments, and less aggressive surgery like breast conservation, oncoplasty, and sentinel lymph node biopsy.”
Dr. Rao recommends performing the self-exam once a month, typically 5-7 days after the menstrual period when the breasts are most supple.
Dr. Daga further noted that early detection dramatically increases the chances of successful treatment, with cure rates as high as 90 to 95% in the early stages of breast cancer. “Unlike earlier, the cure rate has also gone up with early detection,” she added.
In conclusion, regular breast self-examinations are a vital practice for women, enabling them to detect potential signs of cancer early and seek timely medical intervention. This simple, monthly routine can play a significant role in combating the growing incidence of breast cancer and improving survival rates.
