Breast Cancer is the most common malignancy among women globally and India is no exception. In India, the burden of breast cancer is rising significantly every year. The GLOBOCON data released in 2020 shows that in India, breast cancer accounts for 13.5% of all cancer cases and the total figure is 1,78,361. It also shows that we have lost 90,408 lives in 2020 due to breast cancer which is almost 10.6% of all deaths. The major causes behind the increasing death rate are late detection of the condition and less number of Breast Cancer Hospital across the country. It has been observed that, when detected at an early stage, the survival rate is around 90%.
Breast Cancer Awareness - 4 Key Tips on Early Breast Cancer Diagnosis
Breast cancer can be treated easily if detected at an early stage. Awareness is very important for women to know what kind of changes are the warning signs. It has been found that many women with breast cancer do not get any symptoms till an advanced age. This is why regular screening is important. Here are a few tips recommended by specialists from Breast Cancer Hospital.
1. Practice breast self-examination
It is essential to perform regular breast self-examination to detect breast cancer at an early stage. Here is how you can do it at home:
Visual examination
Sit or stand in front of a mirror with your arms at your sides. To inspect your breasts visually, do the following:- Look for any changes in the size or shape of the breasts.
- Check for any dimpling or puckering or unusual asymmetry.
- Inspect if the nipples are inverted and look for any unusual discharge.
- Raise your arms and press your palms together to check any irregularity in shape or size.
Examine with your fingers
- Lie down on a flat surface by putting one of your hands around your neck or head.
- Now with the other hand, touch your breast firmly and examine in a circular motion. Check if you feel any lumps in that area.
- In the same pattern, examine the entire area of your breasts including the collarbone and armpit.
2. Annual screening for women over 40’s
Annual screening tests are crucial for women over 40. If you are over 40+, then you must go for an annual mammography screening. Mammography is a more accurate way to interpret if any possibilities are there. Get your mammography done and checked at a breast cancer hospital. Women in their 20s or 30 should also consider getting screened for breast cancer at least every 2-3 years.
3. Know your risks and possibilities
Knowing your risks and working towards them is key to survive breast cancer. For instance, if you have a family history of breast cancer, then you must consider regular screening. If your mother or sister had breast cancer before their menopause arrived, then you are at higher risk than others. In such cases, you should go for MRI scans along with annual mammogram screenings.
The key takeaway
It is important to understand the symptoms explained above can happen due to other conditions as well. This is why it is important to get screened frequently at a breast cancer hospital.
Also, it is always best to take precautions that can help avoid breast cancer. Certain lifestyle changes such as quitting smoking or alcohol intake limit your possibility to encounter breast cancer. Maintain a healthy diet and get advice from an expert about certain foods to limit or avoid. Indulge yourself in regular physical activities. For lactating mothers, it is very important to know that breastfeeding minimizes the possibility of developing breast cancer.
Holistic Breast Cancer Treatment & Care at Sarvodaya
Sarvodaya Cancer Institute offers the best breast cancer treatment with renowned oncologists and cutting-edge technologies like Respiratory Gating Therapy, Breast Reconstruction by Plastic Surgery and Digital Mammography for precise diagnosis etc. Designed with a patient-centric approach, you can get the best services for early diagnosis and the right treatment for breast cancer in here.
