Prevalence of Breast Cancer

One of the leading causes of death across the globe is cancer. The most prevalent cancer in women and one of the leading causes of mortality is breast cancer. Breast cancer is a complex disease, meaning that many different things can happen to cause it. Despite the fact that the disease is present everywhere, there are significant regional variations in the disease's incidence, mortality, and survival rates. These variations may be caused by a variety of factors, including population structure, way of life, genetics, and environment. The prevalence of breast cancer has increased and is continuing to rise as a result of changes in risk factors.

References: 

Momenimovahed Z, Salehiniya H. Incidence, mortality and risk factors of cervical cancer in the world. Biomed Res Ther. 2017;4(12):1795–1811.

Hortobagyi GN, de la Garza Salazar J, Pritchard K, et al.ABREAST Investigators The global breast cancer burden: variations in epidemiology and survival. Clin Breast Cancer. 2005;6(5):391–401. 

Ferley J, SoerjomataramI I, Ervik M, Dikshit R, Eser S. GLOBOCAN 2012 v1.0. Cancer Incidence and Mortality Worldwide: IARC Cancer Base No. 11. Lyon, France: International Agency for Research on Cancer; 2013.

Momenimovahed Z, Salehiniya H. Epidemiological characteristics of and risk factors for breast cancer in the world. Breast Cancer (Dove Med Press). 2019 Apr 10;11:151-164. doi: 10.2147/BCTT.S176070. PMID: 31040712; PMCID: PMC6462164.

The most common form of cancer among women is breast cancer. In the 1990s, it was ranked fourth on India's list of the most prevalent malignancies. Today, it is now ranked first. According to epidemiological studies, the number of people with Breast cancer worldwide is predicted to reach about 2 million by the year 2030. estimated number of prevalent cases was 526000 (474000 to 574000).In the case of Breast cancer, registrations in Bhopal, Chennai, and Delhi showed a significant increasing trend.

More than 90% of patients with breast cancer survive for at least 5 years following diagnosis in high-income countries, compared to 66% in India and 40% in South Africa. In high-income countries, early detection and treatment have been successful.

Source:

//www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8966510/

//www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/breast-cance r

Governmental and non-governmental organizations should concentrate on early detection and screening programmes. The success or failure of screening programmes depends on a number of variables, including the availability of relevant guidance manuals, the development and use of an appropriate diagnostic tool, proper implementation, and the availability of sufficient human resources. There are difficulties controlling BC, such as delays in seeking medical attention, delays on the part of healthcare providers, and a lack of resources or an unequal allocation of the few available scarce resources and other main reason is the cultural differences. The distribution of informative brochures, books, videos, and podcasts. Recently, more people have turned to the Internet as a trustworthy resource for finding health-related information. Only through raising and maintaining the degree of public awareness can be accomplished.

//www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8966510/

Breast cancer occurs in the glandular tissue of the breast and is the most prevalent type of cancer globally. Although it occurs majorly in women, but 0.5-1% of breast cancers also impact men. As per the national cancer registry, the most common cause of cancer related DALYs among women in north and northeast region was breast cancer (232.7 per 100,000).

//bmccancer.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12885-022-09578-1

//www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/breast-cancer

Breast cancer (BC) is the commonest malignancy among women globally. It has now surpassed lung cancer as the leading cause of global cancer incidence in 2020, with an estimated 2.3 million new cases, representing 11.7% of all cancer cases.

Epidemiological studies have shown that the global burden of BC is expected to cross almost 2 million by the year 2030. In India, the incidence increased significantly, almost by 50%, between 1965 and 1985. The estimated number of incident cases in India in 2016 was 118000, 98.1% of which were females, and the prevalent cases were 526000. Over the last 26 years, the age-standardized incidence rate of BC in females increased by 39.1% (95% uncertainty interval, 5.1 to 85.5) from 1990 to 2016, with the increase observed in every state of the country. As per the Globocan data 2020, in India, BC accounted for 13.5% (178361) of all cancer cases and 10.6% (90408) of all deaths with a cumulative risk of 2.81.

Current trends point out that a higher proportion of the disease is occurring at a younger age in Indian women, as compared to the West. The National Cancer Registry Program analyzed data from cancer registries for the period from 1988 to 2013 for changes in the incidence of cancer.

Reference:

Mehrotra R, Yadav K. Breast cancer in India: Present scenario and the challenges ahead. World J Clin Oncol. 2022 Mar 24;13(3):209-218. doi: 10.5306/wjco.v13.i3.209. PMID: 35433294; PMCID: PMC8966510.

Cancer is a non communicable  disease that is described as uncontrolled increased in growth of cells in body that can spread to other areas. Cancer is the leading cause of mortality. In 2020 breast cancer and lung cancer were identified as most prevalent cancer worldwide. Cancer epidemiology  is concerned with  prevalence, incidence and correlates  to determine trends and causes of cancer in the population. Breast cancer is one of the leading cancer in female with malignancy. Among different forms of cancer prevalence of breast cancer in women is ranked 5th in the world. The advancement of medicine and research has made early detection, treatment and management of breast cancer easier.  The most common symptoms of breast and its treatment are fatigue,pain and restriction of movement which can last upto months, years.

The prevalence of breast cancer is associated with risk factors which can be modifiable such as alcohol consumption, physical inactivity, obesity and non modifiable  risk factors such as age, genetic factors. On reviewing 783 articles from 2013 -2015  and excluding articles on basis of eligibility  criteria 214 were choose.  From these article revie it concluded that among countries in Asia Japan and China had highest number of breast cancer. In India, thailand and China during 2015 the incidence of b4east cancer seems to have increased though it's unclear whether it's true increase or the screening itself has increased in these countries with medical testing availability resulting in false increase. One can assume that  if the incidence either true or false increases either way the detection  of disease is earlier than in past resulting in chances of increasing  the prevalence of breast cancer in India, China, Thailand. Prevalence in Hong Kong can  increase as the research predicts incidence  of breast cancer will increase by year 2025 but at the same time advancement and groth in economy of hongkong is projecting reduction in mortality rate of woman by 9.3 to 8.6 per 100,000 women. We know breast cancer either results in mortality, most suffer from morbidity as the disease consequence and only few get cured. Even with socio-economic  growth can hinder breast cancer survivor with decrease in quality of life.

Nevertheless, prevalence of breast cancer in Asia like in the world is positively associated with heavy smoking, high intake of fatty foods, woman who did not have children or had children after age 30, use of insulin. For mre than 3 years for diabetes,  being over weight and obese, women who had multiple sclerosis and polycystic ovary syndrome diseases, Lower age of menarche, later age of menopause, based on race Caucasian (US) higher risk than Asian, Hispanic and native American, mutation of gene  BRCA1. In conclusion  prevalence of breast cancer among women is associated  highly with non modifiable factors especially age and related changes.

Reference: //www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7445974/     

A Review of the Epidemiology of Breast Cancer in Asia: Focus on Risk Factors

Hyun Jo Youn et al. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev. 2020.

Breast Cancer (BC) is the leading cause of deaths in Indian women. Reports reveal significant increase in the incidence and mortality of BC among young Indian women in addition to the late presentation and poor prognosis. Despite the significant incidence, there is a lack of reliable data resources and epidemiologic studies relating to BC.

Sources: //journals.lww.com/md-journal/Fulltext/2018/12280/Epidemiologic_analysis_of_breast_cancer_incidence,.14.aspx

As the Prevalence of Breast cancer is increasing and is the cause of death of more than 500,000 women around the month. Therefore to raise awareness of Breast cancer, its symptoms, and Early diagnosis of it, October month is designated as the Pink month, where efforts are put to bring awareness among people globally, and early identification can be made as 90% of early-stage breast cancer are curable.

Reference: //www.afro.who.int/news/global-effort-raise-awareness-breast-cancer-october-has-been-designated-pink-month-pink-month

A major issue for world health and a leading cause of death is breast cancer. Although a decline in mortality patterns in high-income countries, low- and middle-income countries are experiencing an increase (LMICs). Addressing global breast cancer research is a difficult task since there are significant inequities and incredibly varied realities in various regions of the world. For the past 20 years, research on breast cancer has contributed to a great development in our knowledge of the disease, leading to more effective therapies. Breast cancer, which accounts for 23% of all cancer deaths in postmenopausal women, is one of the most common malignant illnesses overall. There is an urgent need to reduce breast cancer mortality by awareness and early identification and excellent access to treatment in order to close the cancer gap between wealthy and developing countries.

References:

 Breast cancer is accounting to about 14% of all adolescents and young adult (AYA) cancer diagnosis and 7% of all breast cancer. It represents biologically more aggressive disease, worse outcomes. It also leads to steep decline in mental health, sexual and social functioning.  The number of AYA with breast cancer is increasing around the world yet it remains underrepresented. To know more about breast cancer among AYA population, click on the link below.    

//www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1526820914001086

Health-related quality of life (QoL) is very important for cancer patients. QoL is defined as self-perceived well-being related to or affected by the presence of disease or treatment. Breast cancer is one of the oncologic diseases in which QoL has been studied most. Recent studies have suggested that QoL in the months after diagnosis and breast cancer surgery may be a predictor of psychological well-being later on.

Within the population of cancer patients, there is a growing interest in complementary therapies. Compared to other oncologic entities, e.g. gynecological cancer, women with breast cancer frequently make use of complementary therapies.

Early initiation of yoga as a supportive treatment for cancer had a positive impact on QoL. Teaching yoga allowed patients to practice yoga by themselves, enhanced the patientsʼ QoL, and was found to improve physical activity.

REFERENCE:

//www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3864467/

//pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16162045/

@anoja-sundar Agree. Patient care along with the right prognosis is crucial to Cancer recovery. It also improves the QOL of the patient. Patient care should go beyond the confines of home. A few of the challenges as reported by Mitra and Basu(2020) are Network issues, deferral of radiotherapy dates and long waiting hours beyond appointment time, transportation problems from residence to hospital, restriction of visitors/attendants, deferral of surgery, deferral of tumour boards, delay and deferral of nutritionist advice, problems with visa extension, unavailability of peer group support services and psychological counselling sessions, difficulty in maintaining precautions. 

The study concluded that these challenges affect anxiety levels of the patient and thus have a negative impact. 

Reference: Mitra M, Basu M. A Study on Challenges to Health Care Delivery Faced by Cancer Patients in India During the COVID-19 Pandemic. J Prim Care Community Health. 2020 Jan-Dec;11:2150132720942705. doi: 10.1177/2150132720942705. PMID: 32830619; PMCID: PMC7448263.