Breast Cancer Prevention and Screening

Breast Cancer is the commonest cancer in females worldwide. It is the second most common cancer in females in India after cancer of Cervix, but it is the most common cancer in the urban areas in females in India. With increasing awareness and advancing treatment strategies the survival of breast cancer has improved.

There are some risk factors for the breast cancer which include: Female sex, early age at menarche, late menopause, having children at age more than 30 years or not having children, obesity and alcohol. Apart from these hereditary predisposition is also seen in patients having gene mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2. A previous history of breast cancer also increases risk of cancer in same or other breast.

Prevention is always better than cure. It can be seen from the risk factors mentioned above that many of them are preventable. Likewise the following are certain strategies for prevention of breast cancer

• Limiting intake of alcohol: The risk may be directly proportional to alcohol consumed. So try to avoid it or at least limit its intake.
• Maintain a healthy weight.
• Being physically active.
• Breast feeding. It may have effect in preventing breast cancer. The longer the breast feeding period the larger is the protection.
• Healthy diet: Diets constituting more of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, legumes and nuts may have a role in prevention of breast cancer like many other diseases.

Screening: Screening means looking for cancer before the symptoms appear. It means to do certain investigations in at risk asymptomatic individuals to find out disease if any. It helps in detection of the disease in early stage.

Which patients require to be screened for breast cancer?

There are no Indian guidelines for screening of breast cancer. But Western guidelines suggest that screening should be done for an average risk female above age of 40 years. Also patients with high risk factors like: personal history or family history of cancer, gene mutations like BRCA gene mutations require screening. Mammogram is the most common test done. It is usually advised to be done once in two years along with breast examination. High risk individuals can have more frequent screening.

What are different methods for breast cancer screening?

There are various screening methods for breast cancer.

• Mammography: It is the X ray of the breast which done on a special X ray machine after compression of the breast. It can show lumps in the breast and axilla with their different characteristics. It is the most common screening method used for breast cancer screening.
• MRI of breasts: It is done for high risk patients. Due to cost it cannot be used in average risk patients.
• Breast Examination: Doctor would be palpating the breast and axilla for any lumps.

How does screening help?

Screening helps in detecting the cancer at early stage and may help in reducing the risk of dying from the cancer.

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