This is evident with the number of cases of breast cancer that is registered at Bharath Hospital and Institute of Oncology in Hebbal in the city. Apart from Mysore, the hospital caters to the patients from surrounding districts too. According to the statistics available at the hospital, in the year 2010 (up to August) of the total 1,527 cases that were registered, 1,250 were malignant (leading to death) recorded at highest 81.85 per cent among the diagnosed cases. In the year 2009 of 2,309 cases that were registered, 1,730 were malignant (74.92 pc), followed by 1,559 out of 2260 in 2008, 1,663 out of 2446 in 2007, 1478 out of 2221 in 2006 and 1219 out of 1928 in 2005.
Medical superintendent of the hospital, Dr M S Vishveshwara told Deccan Herald the reasons for spurt in such cases is change in lifestyle. Australia and South America account for highest number of breast cancer related deaths taking the percentage to 101.1. In India and South Asian countries it is put at 19.5. Comparatively though the percentage is low, there are chances of checking it if women became more aware. This is imperative as there is a misconception that the moment one is diagnosed of this particular cancer, the doctors remove it. Vishveshwara said early treatment could help in conservation of breast.
Explaining about the risk factors, the expert said it may be due to age when women deliver their first child. If it is after 30 years of age and early stopping of breast-feeding the new born, prolonged usage of oral contraceptives, hormone replacement therapy, consuming alcohol, obesity and high fat diets and also lack of physical activity. A mother should breast feed the kid atleast for one-and-a-half years, he stressed. Urban women are diagnosed of such complaints owing to change in lifestyle, while in the case of rural women it is due to many factors.
The hospital has been conducting awareness programmes from the past 20 years, besides free diagnose for a month during every October that is observed across the world as ‘Breat Cancer Awareness Month’.
The programme this year is scheduled to start from October 4.