Breast cancer is the leading cause of death due to cancer in Indian women. According to the National Cancer Registry Programme, 1 in 22 women in urban areas and 1 in 60 women in rural areas is likely to develop breast cancer during her lifetime.
As the name suggests, breast cancer is the cancer of the breast tissue that contains milk producing glands called lobules and thin tubes called ducts. Depending on where the cancer begins, breast cancer is of two types -- ductal carcinoma that develops in the cells of the lining of the milk duct and lobular carcinoma that develops in the lobules.
Breast cancer usually affects women. However, it can also occur in men and children, though the incidence is rare. In India, breast cancer has become the most common cancer among women. Moreover, all breast lumps are not cancerous.
If you observe any changes in the breast or nipples, lumps in the armpit or feel breast pain or pain in the nipples do not ignore it as it could be one of the symptoms of breast cancer. Breast cancer can be detected with the help of screening tests. These tests do not prevent cancer but can help you to find breast cancer early which in turn can make the treatment easier.
The treatment of breast cancer does not always involve removal of the whole breast by surgery. In some cases, only a part of the breast tissue or a lump in the breast is removed. Apart from surgery, cancer can be treated with the help of medications (known as chemotherapy), radiation and hormonal therapy.
Watch Dr Priya Tiwari, expert oncologist, give a complete overview of breast cancer
