Hyderabad, Oct 20 : Breast cancer incidence is getting younger, according to a data released by Apollo, the world’s largest integrated healthcare provider, on Friday.
Uncovering a significant shift in breast cancer trends among Indian women. Apollo’s data revealed that over 25% of breast cancer diagnosis were in women less than 40 years of age
Apollo analysed close to 150,000 screenings over the past five years,
In addition to this, the data also showed that the median age of breast cancer incidence among Indian women is almost ten years earlier than western countries like the USA and UK.
This highlighted a critical need for increasing awareness and early intervention through screening and diagnosis among Indian women.
Earlier Onset of Breast Cancer: A striking 25% of breast cancer cases among Indian women occurred at the age of 39 years or less. The recorded minimum age at the time of breast cancer diagnosis is 23 years, it said.
Apollo’s data consistently indicated breast cancer diagnosis among Indian women is at an average age of 53 years, notably lower than the median age of 62 years in western countries like the USA and UK.
A notable 23% screened with Mammography were found to have some abnormality and underwent further evaluation with histopathology. 11.2% of these were diagnosed with breast cancer.
Commenting on this, Dr Sathya Sriram, CEO – Preventive Health, Apollo, said, “Global guidelines have advocated for initiating regular breast cancer screening at the age of 40 years. However, the evolving landscape and these findings necessitates a re-evaluation of these guidelines, especially for Indian women. The misconception that cancer is an improbable cause of health issues in younger age groups often results in delayed diagnoses, potentially leading to missed opportunities for early intervention, better outcomes and survival rates. I urge women across the nation to prioritize timely screenings and also encourage physicians to personalise their recommendation to patients, especially if they have a family history of cancer.”
Dr Manjula Rao, Breast Cancer Specialist and Oncoplastic Surgeon, Apollo Proton Cancer Centre (APCC), stated, “More than sixty percent of breast cancer patients in India present in more advanced stages, with increased breast cancer-related mortality when compared to the West, which reports lower mortality rate, despite higher incidence of the disease. I would like to emphasize that early detection is paramount in the fight against breast cancer, and we at APCC have achieved a great level of success in treating breast cancer diagnosed in the early stages.”..
By prioritizing routine check-ups and adopting a vigilant stance toward breast health, women can be empowered to take charge of their well-being, She added.
