BrayBreast cancer is a condition in which breast cells grow abnormally and form a tumor. The breasts consist of three parts: ducts, lobules, and connective tissue. Most breast cancers begin in the ducts and lobules. Statistics show that breast cancer is the most common cancer in Indian women. Breast cancer accounts for 28.2% of all cancers in Indian women in 2022. It is also the leading cause of cancer prevalence and mortality in India, accounting for 13.5% of new cancer cases and 10% of cancerrelated deaths in 2020. However, the use of modern techniques in the treatment of breast cancer has significantly reduced the chances of mortality from it. How, let's know about those techniques and approaches. Given the rising incidence of breast cancer and its social, economic and health costs, it has now become necessary to adopt a holistic or multifaceted approach to it, which includes prevention, early detection, treatment, palliation and survival etc. In the opinion of cancer experts, there is now a need to adopt a balanced approach by integrating traditional medical techniques of cancer with mainstream cancer treatment methodology, which is effective in identifying the causative factors and areas of cancer, so that a complementary approach can be adopted for its treatment without any doubt.
Exercise has been shown to be highly effective, safe and practical in coping with the adverse effects of treatment, preventing complications and reducing the risk of breast cancer mortality. A recent clinical review has shown that dietary and physical activity treatments are highly effective for primary prevention of breast cancer. Such lifestyle modification treatments need to be mainstreamed.
Early screening is a very effective way to detect many diseases including breast cancer. Early screening programmes in highincome countries have increased patient participation in the medical world. This has led to highquality communityspecific campaigns and periodic education programmes tailored to the sociocultural context. This has helped to raise and maintain awareness levels among the general population. An effective way to do this is to provide information about a particular disease, such as breast cancer, to patients and their relatives in a clinical setting. However, with the everincreasing patient burden, it is not always possible for healthcare providers to provide adequate time and counselling to people. An alternative could be the distribution of pamphlets containing valuable information.
In recent times, the Internet is being increasingly used as a reliable source for obtaining health information. Many people keep searching online information related to various diseases. Keeping these things in mind, a website 'Cancer India' has been developed by the National Institute of Cancer Prevention and Research, which provides comprehensive information on common cancer cases in India including breast cancer in a common man's language (available in English and Hindi). The group recently conducted an evaluation of the information provided by this Website and based on this it was reported that the information provided through various websites was successful in achieving the intended objective of improving cancer awareness.
To implement a comprehensive cancer screening strategy, community participation is essential along with better health system and local government involvement. In lowincome settings, screening programs can be implemented using local volunteers for early detection of breast cancer. Community health workers in low- and middleincome countries can play a vital role in early detection of breast cancer. This includes raising awareness, conducting clinical breast examinations, making referrals and subsequently increasing patient numbers, among other responsibilities. However, if all these activities are properly managed and regulated, it can be translated into real progress.
With advances in molecular diagnostics and therapeutics, techniques such as digital breast tomosynthesis and breast biopsy are proving effective in detecting breast cancer at a very early stage. New noninvasive prognostic biomarker tests are becoming available for this. Above all, early detection programs should be organized for every person suffering from breast cancer in low and middleincome countries. This will make it possible to detect women at risk of breast cancer, which will make it possible to reduce female mortality in low and middleincome countries. Efforts should be made to ensure that no woman is left behind in the goal of eliminating premature deaths.
To reduce the problem of high expenses incurred in cancer treatment or to say to provide financial relief to the patients and to reach the poor section of the society, a new universal health program named 'Ayushman Bharat' has been launched. Under this, Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana has been launched in India recently. This is the world's largest health assurance scheme, which aims to provide health coverage of Rs 5 lakh (US$ 6814) per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization to 10.74 crore (about 107 million) poor and vulnerable families (about 500 million beneficiaries), which is the bottom 40% of the Indian population. There are many healthtech startups, which help in various stages of cancer care.
For example, Niramai® uses machine learning and big data analytics to develop lowcost diagnostics for breast cancer. OncoStem® uses multimarker prognostics tests, which aid in personalized treatment. UE Lifesciences® uses contactless and radiationfree handheld screening devices, which can come in handy during the COVID19 pandemic. Panacea® and Mitra Biotech® are startup companies that help provide precision treatment. Tumorboard® and Navya Network® provide affordable and accurate consultations. Pharmaceutical companies such as Roche®, Novartis®, Dr. Reddy’s®, etc. have several drugpatient support programs that help follow endtoend patientcentric care.
At present, AI i.e. Artificial Intelligence technology has started a revolution in the world of technology. When AI was launched in the year 2023, it was expected that Artificial Intelligence would be used in all fields including Information Technology. Recently, Tata Memorial Cancer Hospital, one of the largest hospitals in the country for cancer treatment, has adopted futuristic tools like AI and opened its doors for other diseases as well. A bioimaging bank has been created at Tata Memorial by collecting data of 60,000 cancer patients. This is a kind of information repository in which radiology and pathology images, clinical information and other information related to the disease will be present.
With the help of 'radiomics', AI will tell doctors about the data from this bioimaging bank regarding the diagnosis of new cancer patients, the effect of chemotherapy and the type of treatment the patient needs. Radiomics is actually a technique to extract important information from medical scans. In this, even those information are easily obtained which doctors have to look at the reports several times to find. This will not only make the work of doctors very easy, but will also speed up the treatment.
A global campaign has been launched to reduce disparities in breast cancer outcomes and improve access to breast health care worldwide, named BC Initiative 2.5. It is a selfassessment toolkit that can help countries conduct a comprehensive breast health situational analysis. Apart from these, patient navigation strategies are also growing rapidly and concepts are developing in the recent past. 'Kevat' is the first initiative in India, which creates a trained task force to facilitate the cancer patient's journey from admission to the hospital.
It is an emerging area of specialty in cancer care, created to target the pressing need for welltrained patient navigators in oncocare. Apart from these, the World Health Organization launched a Global Breast Cancer Initiative on March 9, 2021 to reduce the global breast mortality rate to 2.5% by 2040.
It aims to reduce 2.5 million global deaths by providing an evidencebased technology package, especially in lowincome countries where progress in tackling the disease has been relatively slow. Such efforts towards breast cancer management create a confidence for the future.
– / Written By Top News Bulletin
Image Credit: KhasKhabar.