Breast cancer accounts for most of the cancer-related deaths throughout the world and is the most common cancer in women in western countries as also in India, where it has pushed cervical cancer to the second place during the last decade.
About half of the total number of cases in India is reported in women below 50 years of age. Incidence of breast cancer is 25-31 per cent in cities.
“The alarming aspect is the increasing incidence in women in the 35-45 age group in India, a country which accounts for 17 per cent of total world population and has the highest death rate in the world followed by China and the U.S.,” Principal of Andhra Medical College S.V. Kumar said at a breast cancer awareness walk conducted on the Beach Road on Monday as part of observing cancer awareness month during October.
Breast cancer is caused not by a single factor but due to interplay of genes, and environment and lifestyle factors. It cannot be prevented, but the risk can be substantially lowered by the following methods: being physically active at least 30 minutes per day, breast feeding children, having first child birth before 30 years, avoiding fatty foods, regular screening by mammography, regular self-examination, and early medical consultation in case of any symptoms.
The early symptoms are a lump or mass in the breasts, which, in most cases, is painless; changes in the nipple and ulcers in nipples, swelling in the armpit, bone pain, jaundice, etc.
“The Pathology Department of the AMC has been diagnosing about 60 cases a year for the last two years and IHC (Immuno Histo Chemistry) facilities are offered in the department,” Dr. Kumar said.
MLA V. Ganesh Kumar flagged off the awareness walk. Deputy Commissioner of Police Ram Gopal Naik, Dr. Kumar, Superintendent of KGH M. Madhusudhana Rao, Vice-Principal N. Subba Rao, HoD of Radiotherapy N. Sujatha, noted gastroenterologist E. Pedaveerraju, and a large number of medical and nursing students participated in the walk.
Free mammography at KGH
Dr. Madhusudhana Rao said that mammography would be performed free of cost at KGH from Tuesday to October 13 for the first 100 patients.