Breast cancer is increasingly becoming a cause for concern among women, with cases witnessing a sharp rise globally, nationally, and locally. The Global Burden of Diseases Study Breast Cancer Collaborators published in ‘The Lancet Oncology’ concluded that the cases of breast cancer in India have more than doubled in the past three decades, from 13 cases per one lakh population in 1990 to 29.4 cases per one lakh population in 2023. On the other hand, closer to home, Cama and Albless Hospital, the city’s only government hospital dedicated exclusively to women, has recorded a 68 per cent increase in breast cancer cases in just three years, according to its latest annual report released last month.

“This number is only rising. We have already received 713 cases of breast cancer in just the first seven months of this year. Of course, the awareness is helping, and more women are coming for the screening. However, it’s not enough, as even today, women do not know about the factors that lead to breast cancer and have no idea about several doable preventive measures that can reduce the risk of breast cancer. Even those who have reached an awareness stage of ‘we should get checked after the age of 35 every year’ are not aware of the factors and preventive measures,” said Dr Tushar Palave, Vice-Dean, Cama and Albless Hospital.