A recent survey conducted by a hospital in the national capital revealed that most of the breast cancer patients reach hospital very late, which is due to misconceptions and lack of awareness regarding chemotherapy or mastectomy surgeries leading to delay in their treatment as they first try to opt for alternative medicines. The doctors shared that the grades and stages of breast cancer in Indian patients are higher as compared to other countries. The survey conducted between January 2017 and June 2018, showed that out of the total 269 patients presenting, at the hospital, 102 patients were admitted with stage 2 breast cancer (T2 Lesions), 143 were diagnosed with palpable lesions and the remaining were not at all diagnosed with any cancer cells. Of all these patients 60 percent had a family history of breast cancer. Of the 38 percent diagnosed with T2 lesions, patients were not aware of such conditions (family history) at a younger age (age group 35-45 years). "In India, one in 25 people are diagnosed with breast cancer annually which as compared to developed countries like US/ UK is less where one in 8 patients are diagnosed annually. However, due to awareness among the patients in developed countries, such a high number of cases are diagnosed and treated in early stages and hence the survival rates are better. When considered the Indian scenario, the survival rates are quite low due to high population ratio and low awareness. One out of two diagnosed die within the next five years which attributes to 50 percent mortality rates," said Dr S Veda Padma Priya, Senior Consultant, Breast Oncology, Max Super Speciality Hospital. Breast cancer is one of the leading causes of mortality among patients suffering from cancer worldwide. According to the recent data given by Globacan 2017, breast cancer among Indian women is the highest worldwide. There is an increase in the trend of new cancer patients, and the age group of new patients has gradually dropped from 55 years to under 40 years of age. As per the data recorded in ICMR 2017, over 1.5 lakh new breast cancer patients were recorded in India last year. Globally, seven percent of the population under the age of 40 years is suffering from breast cancer, whereas in India, the rate is double i.e. 15 percent. And out of which one percent of the patients are male, which put together has the highest count of breast cancer patients from India globally. Apart from being hereditary, many other risk factors like sedentary lifestyle, bingeing on alcohol, smoking, increasing obesity among youngsters, stress and poor dietary intake have been attributed to increasing in the incidences of breast cancer among the young Indian women. According to a study conducted by the National Centre for Biotechnology Information 2016, vegetarian women are 40% less vulnerable to breast cancer. "Awareness should be created among masses to get most breast cancers detectable at early stages, as most women with breast cancer arrive after metastasis (when the tumor has spread to other body parts). In metastatic or advanced stages of cancer, it isn't completely curable and the treatment aims to achieve remission (where the tumor shrinks or disappears)," said Dr PN Uppal, Senior Consultant, Medical Oncology, Saroj Super Speciality Hospital.

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