According to health experts, women should be cautious of different symptoms of breast cancer and those above 40 years should go for self-examination, a routine check-up and mammogram test.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/46986790/seo1HR.0.0.jpg)
PATNA: Like other parts of the country, Bihar too is witnessing an increase in number of various kinds of cancer cases, especially breast cancer in women.
According to health experts, women should be cautious of different symptoms of breast cancer and those above 40 years should go for self-examination, a routine check-up and mammogram test.
Senior consultant (breast oncosurgery) at Jai Prabha Medanta, Dr Niharika Roy, said 50% of the patients of breast cancer come to them in second or third stage and 14% in the fourth stage.
“If screened at an early stage, breast cancer can be cured,” Dr Roy said, adding the government should provide easy and wider screening facilities for all the individuals. She said women above 40 years of age should go for mammogram, which is cost-effective.
Dr Roy said though the data for breast cancer was not available for Bihar, the country-wide data suggests that a breast cancer case is detected in India every four minutes and a woman died of it every 30 minutes.
Dr Ridhu Kumar, director and consultant (medical oncology) at Magadh Cancer Centre, said many women develop breast cancer without symptoms. She said women should regularly check their breasts for any kind of lump or alterations and go for mammogram.
“Women should maintain a healthy lifestyle as well as proper weight and get involved in physical activities. Breast cancer is directly linked to being overweight. In addition, drinking liquor is a risk factor. Women should take lots of fruits and vegetables. Breastfeeding for a year or longer has shown lower risk of breast cancer,” she added.
Dr Abhishek Anand, hematologist at Narayan Cancer Centre and Paras HMRI Hospital said shy nature of women and lack of awareness are also responsible for rise in breast cancer cases. “Covid pandemic which has further aggravated the problem,” he added.
Dr Anand said lump or thickening of breast tissue, change in the size, shape or appearance of breast and newly inverted nipple are some of the symptoms of breast cancer.
“There may be peeling or scaling of the pigmented area surrounding the nipple or breast skin. If these symptoms are observed, one should visit a doctor even if the recent mammogram test was normal,” Dr Anand added.
