The early stages of cancer are around 90% to 95% curable. So, early detection prevents the spread of cancer. In comparison to earlier, early detection also increased the cure rate.
Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in women worldwide and in India. But on Thursday, even as breast cancer cases continued to climb in the country, health experts said a monthly self-breast examination may help women catch the deadly cancer early.
The data from ICMR showcased that the total female cancers that were accounted for by breast cancer have surged up to 28.2 percent. This makes the estimation for 2022 account for as many as 216,108 cases.
“You need to spend just three fingers and three to four minutes outdoors once a month to be able to identify typical indications and symptoms. That becomes just three minutes very quickly. All you need is a mirror and your hand; no one else is needed. Knowing the typical sensation of your breasts makes it easy to identify any alterations or anomalies at an early stage, according to Dr Garima Daga, Senior Consultant, Surgical Oncology, Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute and Research Centre.
“Any change in the feel of your breasts during a breast health examination may be indicative of thickening of the skin, ulceration, nipple discharge, or most often, a mass in the breast, armpit, or under the nipple,” she furthered.
What Are Some Common Symptoms Of Breast Cancer?
Normally, it presents with a lump or any kind of discharge from the nipple. Any bloody discharge, greenish discharge, any kind of lump-this should be taken care of, says an expert.
Among various famous Indian celebrities, Tahira Kashyap, Mahima Chaudhry, and several others were diagnosed with breast cancers earlier. A recent one is that of television actress Hina Khan, who recently went public with her stage three breast cancer diagnosis. She is seeking treatment for it.
Alarmingly, the cancer previously considered to affect older people has, within the last three decades grown massively in those aged 40 or 50.
Also read: 5 Lesser Known Breast Cancer Signs That Every Woman Must Be Aware Of
What Causes Breast Cancers?
Experts affirm that genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors contribute to even such women apparently healthy developing breast cancer. Therefore, they suggest early detection coupled with the necessary lifestyle adjustments, including a healthy body weight, proper diet, and regular exercise.
Do monthly self-breast examinations, which would go a long way in early detection. The point should be to detect it at a very early stage since breast cancer does not cause any pain at the initial stages.
“It is just a method through which women are sensitized and made aware of the normal condition of their breasts so that at the earliest phase of deviation from the normal, it may be brought to the attention of the correct doctor,” said Dr Manjula Rao, Consultant, Oncoplastic Breast Surgeon, Apollo Proton Cancer Centre, Chennai.
“It aids in identifying cancerous lumps at a much smaller size, so it allows for earlier detection, less severe treatments, and less aggressive surgery like breast conservation, oncoplasty, and sentinel lymph node biopsy,” the doctor said. She advised doing it once a month, usually 5-7 days after periods when the breast is at its most supple.
