Lack of awareness and social stigma still a barrier in early diagnosis of breast cancer, say doctors at PSG Comprehensive Cancer Care Clinics

Coimbatore: Breast cancer is the most common cancer affecting women in Indian cities. With our population, breast cancer has a much earlier onset as our patients are about 10 years younger as compared to those in other countries. 48% of patients affected by breast cancer in India are less than 50 years of age, a release from PSG hospitals noted. 

To create mass awareness on early diagnosis of breast cancer, many healthcare organisations have come out with campaigns across the World to raise the awareness among the public and women at large to take periodic checkups to identify this disease at a very early stage.

The doctors of PSG Comprehensive Cancer Care Clinics here, in view of ‘Pink October’ which marks the International Breast Cancer Awareness month gave an insight into the impact of Breast Cancer in India.

Indian women tends to have more aggressive breast cancer when compared to patients from other countries and have higher mortality compared to other countries. In the American population, 75% of breast cancer patients present at an early stage whereas in India 50% of patients present in a more advanced stage, like stage III or IV of the condition. 

In the West, about 89% of patients survive 5 or more years following their treatment whereas in India the same is only around 60%, in spite of treatment.

The lack of awareness and the social stigma associated with breast cancer contributed significantly to the above scenario. Also, widespread accessibility to screening mammogram in Western countries is an important reason for early diagnosis of breast cancer. 

The doctors at PSG Comprehensive Cancer Care Clinics stressed that when detected in an early stage, the treatment is simpler, easily tolerated and better cured. The great impact of a multi-modality comprehensive treatment for breast cancer was also stressed on. The availability of Comprehensive Cancer Care Clinics represented by all specialities treating breast cancer in PSG hospitals was also informed to the attendees. 

In this endeavour, PSG Comprehensive Cancer Care Clinics has planned to conduct breast cancer awareness and screening program in the OPD, on a prior appointment basis. Apart from clinical examination, they aim to educate the people regarding the correct method of breast self-examination. The aim is to enable people to detect breast abnormalities at an early stage and take appropriate treatment.

Dr. Balaji – Project Director, Comprehensive Cancer Centre, PSG Hospitals, Dr. Shiva Kumar Kuppuswamy, Surgical Oncologist, Dr. Mohana Raj, Surgical Oncologist, Dr.Krupa Shankar, Medical Oncologist, Dr.Madhulika Vijayakumar, Radiation Oncologist, Dr.Rumesh Chandar, Pediatric Oncologist were present during the event.