Breast Cancer is the leading site of cancer among women-National Cancer Registry Program. Current trends point out a higher proportion of breast cancer occurring at a younger age in Indian women compared to the West.
2. Breast cancer is the most common cancer
among women in India.
In 2020, an estimated 178,361 new cases of
breast cancer and 90,408 deaths recorded.
The 5-year survival rate is less than 60% and
is mostly attributed to a lack of breast
cancer awareness in the community and
among health care providers.
Suboptimal access to services for early
detection of breast cancer resulting in late-
stage diagnosis, and inequitable access to
quality treatment.
Why there is a need for a breast
cancer program in India?
3. Provides guidance for population-
based screening of all women aged
30 to 65 years for breast and
cervical cancer.
However, the gap is in
operationalization and
implementation of the program
which have been observed to be
slow and inconsistent.
How is India tackling breast
cancer?
4. To raise awareness, develop behavior-change
communication materials, orient frontline health care
workers, and integrate activities for breast health into
community and primary health care programs.
For early detection/screening at primary care level,
include training of frontline health care workers,
development of protocols, systematic integration of
breast health care services at all public health systems.
At diagnostic level, set up ‘single-window breast
health care clinics’ with the presence of health
experts, trained pathologist and laboratory technicians
on specimen processing, free diagnostic services for
suspected cases and referral tracking, streamlining the
diagnostic and treatment pathways to improve
efficiency and access for patients, availability of
preliminary blood tests and staging investigations
including chest x-ray and liver ultrasound.
Track and follow-up patients across the care pathway
and facility-level data should be compiled monthly for
review by district/ state health authorities.
What key strategies should breast
cancer programs consider:
