BENGALURU: The breast (27.5 per cent) was the leading site of cancer in females in Bengaluru registry area, according to population-based cancer registry 2012-14. The respective Crude Rate and Age Adjusted Rate per 1,00,000 population were 29.3 per cent and 34.4 per cent.
Dr Santosh Gowda, head of medical oncology, Mazumdar-Shaw Cancer Centre, Narayana Health City, said incidence of breast cancer in India is increasing. “Any woman aged 45 should get a mammograph once every year. After 55, every two years once is suggestible. A healthy lifestyle, exercise for 30 minutes, vegetarian diet with fruits and vegetables, limited alcohol intake, careful intake of hormonal supplements is what women should focus on.”
Ninety per cent of women who get breast cancer do not have family history, so those with no family history are not immune. If a woman is at high risk, there are risk reduction strategies available,” he said.
Dr Anthony Pai, Clinical Director and Senior Consultant-Oncoplastic Breast Surgeon at Cytecare Hospitals, said, “Environmental causes, hormones, obesity (33 per cent of Indian women are obese) are some of the factors that affect high incidence. Indians are more prone to viral conditions due to a poor immune system.”
Dr C Ramesh, Prof and Head, Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology, said, “Women above 20 years of age should do self-examination, those between 30 and 40 years of age should get a clinical examination and those above 40 years of age should get a mammogram done.”
Walkathon held
October is observed as the breast cancer awareness month and Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology, organised a walkathon from its hospital to Lalbagh on Wednesday morning. School students, doctors and staff of Kidwai participated. A breast cancer awareness seminar was also held.