Breast cancer incidence in India more than doubled in 3 decades, says Lancet study

Mumbai: The incidence of breast cancer in India more than doubled between 1990 and 2023, according to an 204-country study that estimates another huge increase in cases by 2050 if "six modifiable risk factors" are not tackled.The Global Burden of Disease Study Breast Cancer Collaborators, published in ‘The Lancet Oncology', said the incidence rate in India climbed from 13 per 1 lakh women in 1990 to 29.4 per 1 lakh in 2023. In the same period, the age-standardised mortality rate increased from 8.9 to 15.5, marking a 74% rise in breast cancer deaths in India.
Globally, breast cancer continues to be the leading cause of cancer-related illness and premature death among women worldwide. In 2023, there were an estimated 23 lakh new breast cancer cases and 7.6 lakh deaths. By 2050, cases could rise by a third to 3.5 million despite advances and treatment, said the Lancet study.Globally, three times as many new breast cancer cases were diagnosed in women aged 55 or older in 2023 (161 vs 50 new cases per 1 lakh women) compared to women aged 20-54. However, rates of new cases have risen in women aged 20-54 (up 29%) since 1990, with rates in older women not changing substantially. These differences reflect changing age patterns as well as changes in risk factors, which vary between pre- and post-menopausal women."In middle-income countries such as India, the total economic burden of breast cancer was estimated at $8.13 billion in 2021 and is projected to rise to $14 billion by 2030 as incidence continues to increase,'' it added.The study also said that "over a quarter of healthy years lost to breast cancer are due to six modifiable risk factors, including high red meat intake, tobacco, high blood sugar, and high BMI—offering important opportunities for prevention.""The projected rise in breast cancer burden by 2050 is not fate — it's a forecast, and, therefore, preventable. This analysis is a policy blueprint. With organized screening, timely diagnostics, and universal access to evidence-based treatment, we can bend the curve. The science is ready. The time to act is now," said Dr (Prof) Jyoti Bajpai, lead medical & precision oncologist from Apollo Hospital, Navi Mumbai.Tata Memorial Centre director Dr Sudeep Gupta pointed out that with increased levels of development, there is often a concomitant rise in the incidence of some cancers, in India it is breast cancer. "There is a change in reproduction pattern, increase in tobacco and alcohol use, among other reasons that have been seen across the globe,'' said Dr Gupta.The latest study, however, shows that the breast cancer burden in the West has peaked there and associated deaths are lower."This publication highlights the improvement in breast cancer detection in underprivileged countries, but also provides us the insight into the gap between the developed and the developing countries which we need to bridge," said senior medical oncologist Dr Kumar Prabhash from Tata Memorial Hospital, Parel.The study's authors said that progress towards ensuring all women have an equal chance to survive breast cancer can only be achieved through a combination of aggressive prevention strategies, ensuring well-functioning health systems capable of early diagnosis and comprehensive treatment, and making cancer services both accessible and affordable to all.Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Holi wishes, messages and quotes !