Breast Cancer Month October 2023
- Breast Cancer awareness and early detection -

Dr (Prof) Sapam Opendro Singh *

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women worldwide. One in every eight woman may have the disease among American women in their life time. Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer globally in 2020, with an estimated 2.3 million new cases, representing 11.7% of all types of cancer.

In India also, breast cancer has significantly increased in the last two decades which has surpassed cancer of the cervix, and has become the most common cancer in women.

To increase awareness of breast cancer and to promote screening and prevention of breast cancer, “Breast Cancer Awareness Month” is being held in the month of October every year since 1992.

The breast cancer month is aimed at:

1. Supporting people diagnosed with breast cancer, including metastatic breast cancer.
2. Educating people about breast cancer risk factor.
3. Stressing the importance of regular screening starting at the age of 40 or at an age that’s appropriate for your personal breast cancer risk (eg if you have a family history, screening may be started at the age of 30).
4. Fund raising for breast cancer research.

85% of breast cancer occurs in women with no family history, whereas only 10-20% of the cases are genetic. While the disease is most commonly affecting women, men can also have the disease in 0.5–1%.

If men suffer from the disease, the prognosis is usually very poor as they spread very fast. In 2021, US president, Joe Biden, designated 17th to 23rd October as “Men’s breast cancer awareness week” to increase awareness from the disease among men.

While the disease can occur at any age, the commonest age group for the disease being 45-55 years in the western population. In Indian population the disease come earlier, and in Manipur the commonest age group being 35-45 years, in one of our studies in 2007.

Most of the breast lumps are benign breast disease which are not cancerous. Most breast lump during teen age group are fibroadenomas, which exactly is not a disease but classified as aberrations in normal development and involution (ANDI).

During lactation of a mother, common breast problems are mastitis and galactocele. However, care should be taken if there is a painless lump in the breast which increases in size in the recent past particularly above the age of 40 and a physician should be consulted.

The risk factors for breast cancer are–female gender(strongest risk factor), increasing age, obesity, alcohol, tobacco use, family history of breast cancer, history of radiation exposure in the chest, post-menopausal hormonal therapy, early menarche, late menopause, nulliparity, lack of breast feeding etc.

However, 50% of breast cancer develop in women who have no identifiable breast cancer risk factor other than sex and age (female sex above 40 years). Therefore, screening and early detection becomes the most important reliable factor for all women for prevention and successful treatment of breast cancer.

Why breast cancer screening and early detection ? Breast cancer screening is aimed to detect the disease at an early stage when the disease can be treated successfully for cure. Screening means examining the breast when there are no signs and symptoms in the body.

Therefore, it may help to detect the disease early. American cancer society recommended self-breast examination by the women herself at the age of 20 years once in every month. Otherwise screening normally starts at the age of 40 years.

Screening is a three pronged method which includes – a) monthly self breast examination, b) yearly clinical breast examination by a physician, and c) yearly mammography.

The treatment of breast cancer comprises of multimodality approach like surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy. In patients with positive hormone receptors, hormonal therapy may be added to the above treatment.

Conclusion: Breast cancer is the most common cause of cancer in female worldwide and major burden among the populations. Screening and early detection is the only way for prevention of mortality and morbidity. Screening should start at 40 years of age with breast self examination, clinical breast examination and screening mammography.