4 THE TIMES OF INDIA, BANGALORE TUESDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2011 TIMES CITY 31.4% of city patients suffer Breast cancer in urban India nearly doubles in 24 years Kounteya Sinha | TNN B reast cancer cases are spiralling the world over, and urban India is no exception. A recent landmark analysis of cancer cases among women in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Bangalore from 1982 to 2005, conducted by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) , shows that incidence of breast cancer has nearly doubled in metropolitan cities. On the other hand, cases of cervical cancer, which is the most common form of cancer among Indian women, is dipping—in some cities by almost 50% (See box for rise in incidence). India’s National Health Profile 2010 predicts that by 2020, breast cancer will overtake cervical cancer as the most common type of cancer among women in India. According to Dr Rajni Mutneja, head of preventive oncology at Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute, Delhi, almost 1 in 20 women in metropolitan cities are suffering from breast cancer. “Cases have almost doubled in the last decade, and nearly half of the patients come to us at the final stage when curing it is difficult,” he said. A health ministry official said: “Till a decade ago, breast cancer was diagnosed in around 10 per 1 lakh women every year. Now, it has more October is Breast Cancer than doubled to Awareness Month. Let’s Pink is a movement to raise 23 per 1 lakh awareness on the disease women. In and its prevention cities like Chennai, the figures are troubling with the breast cancer ratio as high as 1:33.” TOI also looked at the 10 leading types of cancer that women in cities suffered from between 2006 and 2008, and found that breast cancer accounted for the highest percentage in each city. In Mumbai, 30% of cancer cases among women were that of the breast; in Delhi and Bangalore it was almost 26.9% while the incidence in Chennai was marginally lower at 26.5%. In Kolkata, it accounted for 27.2% of cancer cases among women and in Pune it was 28.9%. ICMR has also come out with the “possibility of one in number of people developing cancer of any site” score. The calculation is age specific — 0-64 and 0-74 years. In Mumbai and Kolkata, 1 in 14 women runs the risk of developing cancer before they reach 64 years (See Risk Factor). Director general of ICMR Dr V M Katoch said certain anatomical sites of cancer have shown a significantly steady increase across all registries, breast cancer being one of them. “This data will tell us how we can improve diagnostic capabilities,” he said. Let’s Pink is a joint initiative by The Times of India and Ponds. This is the first in a series of 7 articles on breast cancer / / / / Urbanization, Change In Diet, Lifestyle Are The Main Causes Photo for representation only Make Time For Yourself You can get a preliminary breast examination done for free from any of these doctors between October 18 and 24 AREA DOCTOR 1. Dr M H Marigowda Rd Dr K C Lakshmaiah Kidwai Hospital CONTACT NOS 9448055949 2. BSK III Stage Dr C N Patil Cope Health Centre 9845491138 08026724188 3. Promenade Road Dr Syed Altaf Speciality Clinic 08025302655 9448136329 Dr K Shobha Speciality Clinic 9845880095 5. Dr M H Marigowda Rd Dr D Lokanath Kidwai Hospital 8026094000 6. Dr M H Marigowda Rd Dr Siddanna R Pallad Kidwai Hospital 9980666727 7. Bannerghatta Road -- 4. Promenade Road PERILS OF URBANIZATION Dr Ganesha Dev Vashishta 8. Sampangi Ram Nagar Dr Radheshyam Naik Healthcare Global Hospital 9731310682 9. Sampangi Ram Nagar Dr C T Sateesh Healthcare Global Hospital 8095856088 10.Dr M H Marigowda Rd Dr K P R Pramod Kidwai Hospital 08026094042 9886947281 Hetal Vyas | TNN Bangalore: The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has predicted there will be around 1.5 million cancer patients in India by 2015, and most of them will suffer from breast cancer. Of 100 women with various cancers in Bangalore, 31.4% suffer from breast cancer. It has overtaken the number of cervical cancer cases, which initially affected a majority of women patients. As per ICMR figures (the last such study was done in 2008), the disease is on the rise at the rate of 3% every year. A decade ago, the figure in Bangalore was 16%, while it is 31.4% today. “Approximately 2.5 lakh women with breast cancer are examined in India every year, of which at least 1 lakh are fresh cases. The reasons are urbanization, industrialization, changed lifestyle, unhealthy diet and other factors which lead to hormonal imbalance,” said Dr Anthony Pais, head of the Breast Cancer Unit and Women’s Oncology department, Mazumdar Shaw Cancer Centre at Narayana Hrudayalaya. Unfortunately, in India most women wait for the symptom of pain. “The average age for a woman to be diagnosed with breast cancer is about 47 years. There is a need to start checking once a woman touches 40. In 98% of the cases, the lump is painless, which is more dangerous,” said Dr Pais. Says Dr B S Ajaikumar, chairman, HCG Cancer Hospital: “The primary reason for contracting breast cancer is change in diet and lifestyle. Passive smoking can also lead to it. The rate at which breast cancer cases are rising, it can be considered a chronic disease.” Oncologists say there is a need to spread awareness. “In- Spiralling Incidence An analysis of cancer cases among women in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Bangalore from 1982 to 2005 shows the incidence of breast cancer has nearly doubled in metropolitan cities. The figures below represent incidence per 1 lakh women in % 33.5 32.3 CHENNAI BANGALORE 15.8 1982 2005 32.2 DELHI 24.8 30 MUMBAI 18.4 1982 2005 1982 2005 20.8 1982 2005 PREDICTION | India's National Health Profile 2010 predicts that by 2020, breast cancer will affect 1.24 lakh women across India 84,000 87,000 90,000 1.06L 1.24L 2020 2015 2010 2009 2008 Risk Factor DELHI | 1 in 11 women run the risk of cancer by the time they are 64 years. (11 in 8 by 74 years) MUMBAI | 1 in 14 women run the risk before 64. ( 1 in 9 by 74 years) KOLKATA | 1 in 14 women may get cancer before 64 years. (11 in 10 by 74 years) CHENNAI | 1 in 12 women are at risk reaching 64 years (11 in 8 by 74 years) BANGALORE |11 in 10 women may get Source: ICMR cancer by 64 years, (11 in 7 by 74 years) GROWING NUMBERS FIGHTING THE DISEASE ● USA has one breast cancer Spreading awareness about breast cancer is the best way to fight it, especially in India, where rural women are still shy to visit a doctor to discuss their problems. In western countries, cancer check-ups are mandatory every six months. In our country, it is optional because the government is not very aggressive about promoting healthcare facilities. Niti Raizada Narang | MEDICAL ONCOLOGIST, VIKRAM HOSPITAL patient in every nine cancer patients; in India, there is one in every 22 ● Delhi leads with one breast cancer case in every 17 cases ● Bangalore is close behind with one breast cancer case in 20 patients ● Doctors predict that Bangalore will be the breast cancer capital in 4-5 years, with 15 to 16 cases FIGURES IN INDIA (Per 1 lakh population) Bangalore 36.1 Thiruvananthapuram 33.0 Mumbai 32.3 Delhi 32.3 Chennai 31.5 Kolkata 25.5 Source: Population Based Cancer Registries 2006-2008, ICMR study dian women are still shy of discussing their problem, which is why most of them learn about the cancer only when it has spread and reached an advanced stage,” said Dr Pais. Hormonal imbalance and heredity also cause breast cancer. “Nowadays, girls attain puberty early and women reach menopause in their late 40s. This happens due to change in lifestyle and food habits which create hormonal imbalance, and is passed on to the next generation,” said Dr Linu John Abraham, consultant medical oncologist, Fortis Hospital. CASE STUDIES ● Kamakshi Natarajan (name changed), a software engineer, was just 26 when she was diagnosed with breast cancer about a year ago. She visited a hospital after noticing a slight but constant pain in her left breast, which was diagnosed as a cancerous lump. A second examination showed up a lump in her t w a s n t e 7 ctUng hc ç t6say ’ yc S ‘th p j t/ t LL sn ’t. f l u It took flowers , chocoLates , candlelight dinners , repeated assurances and several several, proposals on bended knee before she finally said yes ’. And it’s going to take you about the same effort plus countless reminders before before she she re reluctantly uctantiy agrees to go for that breast check-up. reminders But when you married her, you vowed to take care of her forever. So ensure that she does one regu regularly r y to rule ru’e out cance r or detect it earLy. SMS * LETSPINK to 53636 to pledge your support. For details of free preliminary breast check-ups , visit facebook.com /pondsindia et’s Pink p P1 POND’S *R s , 3 per SMS of which Re. 1 wi l L be donated on your behalf to The Indian Cancer Society. M mitiativc S wthTHE TIMES OF INDIA Every woman, especially those with a family history of cancer, should undergo a mammography once a year, breast examination every two months and clinical examination of breasts once every six months. Suresh Babu | CONSULTANT MEDICAL ONCOLOGIST, BGS HOSPITAL Chances of survival in the first or second stages are very bright. If diagnosed on time, women in an advanced stage of breast cancer can live for 5-8 years and with good care, even 10 years. Ajaikumar right breast. Luckily for her, it was still in the first stage. She underwent various treatments, including breast implantation and reconstruction for over eight months, and has now completely recovered. ● Sudha Joshi (name changed), 48, got a rude shock 18 months ago, when she went for a routine check-up to a city hospital. The doctors detected cancer tissues in her left breast: the lump was less than 1cm in diameter, and was difficult to locate. Doctors suggested that Sudha undergo radioimmunoguided surgery. Sudha was cured without undergoing chemotherapy or radiation.