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Breast cancer is the most common cancer among Indian women, with cases rising sharply over the last decade. Approximately 1 in 28 women is at risk of developing breast cancer during her lifetime, with urban areas reporting a higher incidence compared to rural areas. In India, breast cancer often presents at a more advanced stage, leading to higher mortality rates than in many Western countries. However, preventive advances offer hope for reducing this burden.

Key preventive strategies include early screening and awareness. Mammography is crucial for early detection, but access to this technology both in terms of availability and cost, especially in rural areas remains limited. Awareness about the importance of mammography itself is lacking in rural areas and semi-urban.

There are ways and means of making breast cancer screening available and affordable for the said population through mobile mammography initiative. Large scale community awareness on breast cancer prevention strategies, diet and lifestyle modifications, self-breast examination, risk factors, early symptoms of breast cancer, right schedule for mammography screening, importance of prevention and screening in case of family history of breast and ovarian cancers etc are critical to catching cancer in its early stages.

MOC Cancer Care Foundation is an organization that offers financial and otherwise assistance to financially backward cancer patients and works towards large scale cancer awareness and screening. It has undertaken a mobile mammography program using its mammography van to contribute to much-needed, nationwide breast cancer screening program. In its first year, it intends to screen over 4000 females for breast cancer. MOCF engages in educating urban and rural women on breast cancer and offers mammography at a discounted cost so that many women can avail it for their benefit.

Genetic testing, particularly for BRCA mutations, is another preventive tool gaining ground in India. Women with a family history of breast or ovarian cancer can benefit from this test, allowing for more personalized prevention strategies.

Increased awareness, affordable screening programs, and enhanced access to genetic testing are key to mitigating the growing breast cancer epidemic in India.

Dr. Pritam Kalaskar
MD DM
Consultant Cancer Physician
MOC Cancer Care & Research Centre, Thane.