Over 27% of cancers in Indian women aged 15–39 are breast cases

Bengaluru: Breast cancer represents more than 27 percent of all cancers diagnosed among Indian women aged 15 to 39 in 2022, according to estimates from the National Cancer Registry Programme. Although the disease is commonly linked to older age groups, these figures highlight its notable presence among younger women as well.

Dr. Radheshyam Naik, senior medical oncologist at Sammprada Hospital in Bengaluru, addressed the issue during Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October and stressed the importance of correcting the belief that younger women face little risk.

“Dismissing a breast lump or other unusual alterations simply because of age can postpone diagnosis and treatment,” he noted.

“Indicators that warrant attention include a new or ongoing lump, alterations in breast shape or size, skin dimpling, nipple inversion and unexpected nipple discharge. Age by itself should never serve as grounds for setting aside a possible symptom. Not every breast change signals cancer, yet consulting a physician to determine the underlying reason remains essential rather than overlooking the matter,” Dr. Naik stated in a press release.

“Younger women sometimes fail to notice symptoms because they do not view themselves as vulnerable, link alterations to normal hormonal shifts or delay medical visits due to professional and family obligations,” he explained.

Dr. Naik emphasised breast awareness together with prompt medical assessment. “Women ought to become acquainted with the usual appearance and feel of their own breasts and obtain medical guidance whenever unusual changes appear. At the same time, breast awareness does not replace suitable screening or diagnostic examinations. The path of investigation varies according to a woman’s age, symptoms, medical background and risk factors,”

he added.

He further warned against concluding that the lack of a family history of breast cancer removes any danger. “Inherited genetic elements can heighten susceptibility, yet the disease can also develop in women who have no known family history. Emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence may assist breast cancer detection by aiding radiologists in spotting suspicious abnormalities on mammograms, enhancing the uniformity of image readings and ranking cases that need closer scrutiny,” Dr. Naik said. These instruments can supplement standard diagnostic methods and raise the efficiency of screening programmes, the release indicated.