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Understanding breast cancer is of utmost importance because breast cancer is one of the most common cancers in Indian women. It is one of the cancers that can be detected early by screening. Also, when detected early and treated, it can be cured. Survival rates for early stages are similar to those of normal women. October being Breast Cancer Awareness Month, let us bust some myths pertaining to breast cancer among women.
Synopsis
Breast Cancer: Current Indian Scenario & Key Risk Factors
Breast cancer has been an aggressive form of cancer in India, as it has been noted that Indian women are at a higher risk of developing it 10 years earlier than their Western counterparts. By the end of 2025, the number of breast cancer cases in India is estimated to reach 232,832. Higher incidence rates are observed in urban areas like Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, and Hyderabad compared to rural regions. This increase is largely due to our genetic predisposition and the risk of gene mutations. Of course, lifestyle changes play an equally important role in the development of breast cancer. Moreover, the mortality rate is high due to a poor culture of early screening, which leads to late-stage diagnoses for most women.
Below are common risk factors of breast cancer among women:
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Aging
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Family history of cancer and genetics
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Obesity and sedentary lifestyle
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Personal history of breast cancer
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Constant radiation exposure
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Smoking and alcohol consumption
The Roadblock for Late Diagnosis
The knowledge gap is perhaps our most significant hurdle in the early detection of breast cancer. While awareness is increasing, it is often mixed with outdated information, misconceptions, and social stigma. This widespread misinformation leads to anxiety, delayed screening, and tragic late-stage diagnoses. To truly fight breast carcinoma, we must first arm ourselves with the facts and actively dismantle the common myths of breast cancer that stand in the way of early detection.
Busting Common Breast Cancer Myths
1. MYTH: Only women can contract breast cancer.
FACT: Breast cancer is a hundred times more common in women, but men can also develop breast cancer, though it's rare (about 1%).
2. MYTH: Breast cancer is restricted to elderly women.
FACT: Breast cancer not only happens in women more than 50 years of age, but it is also seen in women less than 35 years. In fact, it is quite aggressive in these young women. Hence, breast self-examination (BSE) should start as early as 20 years of age.
3. MYTH: Family history means 100% risk of breast carcinoma.
FACT: Family history accounts for only 10-15% of breast cancer. The rest of the 85% of breast cancers occur in women with no family history. Sedentary lifestyle, obesity, no physical activity, habits, not childbearing, childbirth after 35 years of age, and not breastfeeding are some of the most common risk factors. Those with a family history need to undergo genetic testing and counselling.
4. MYTH: Wearing underwired bras and using perfumes, deodorants, and talc increases the risk of breast cancer.
FACT: A big NO. Wearing underwired bras and using perfumes, deodorants, and talc does not increase the risk of breast cancer.
5. MYTH: All breast lumps are cancerous.
FACT: Not at all. Breast lumps can be benign or malignant. Benign lumps are non-cancerous. They include cysts, fibroadenomas, and fibroadenosis. Malignant lumps are cancerous. They could be ductal carcinoma or lobular carcinoma, sarcoma, or lymphoma.
6. MYTH: Breast cancer lumps are always painful.
FACT: Cancerous lumps are usually painless until they become advanced and involve the surrounding structures, like skin or nerves, or become infected.
7. MYTH: Breast cancer always presents as a lump that you can feel.
FACT: Breast cancer doesn't always present as a lump. Changes in skin, engorged veins, nipple discharge, and swollen armpits because of enlarged lymph nodes are some of the other symptoms along with a painless progressive lump. When the disease is advanced, they present with symptoms according to the organ involved, like back pain in case of bone involvement; cough and breathlessness in case of lung involvement; decreased appetite, weight loss, and jaundice in case of liver involvement; and headache, vomiting, and double vision in case of brain involvement.
8. MYTH: A mammogram is painful and can cause cancer.
FACT: A mammogram is not painful and is one of the best screening modalities, i.e., to detect breast cancer even before the onset of symptoms. It is advisable that all women more than 40 years of age should undergo an annual mammogram. It is an X-ray of the breast. A mammogram does not cause cancer.
9. MYTH: Treatment of all breast cancer is the same.
FACT: Every story is unique, and every journey matters. Treatment of breast cancer depends upon the type, biology, and stage. Treatment varies for hormone-positive, HER2+, and triple-negative breast cancer. Hormone-positive breast cancer can be treated with orals and can forgo chemotherapy based on stage. HER2+ breast cancer needs targeted therapy, and triple-negative breast cancer can be treated with immunotherapy along with chemotherapy.
10. MYTH: All women with breast cancer need the removal of the breast.
FACT: Surgery is one of the definitive modalities of treatment and is preferred upfront for early breast cancers. In locally advanced breast cancers and in HER2+ and triple-negative breast cancers, we downstage the tumor with chemotherapy and targeted therapy and then plan surgery. These days, we have BCS – breast conservative surgery, which involves the removal of the lump alone and not the whole breast – and SLNB – sentinel lymph node biopsy rather than axillary lymph node dissection, decided on a case-by-case basis.
11. MYTH: All breast cancers are treated with radiation therapy.
FACT: Breast cancers treated with BCS – breast conservation surgery – and node-positive, larger tumors need radiation therapy. Radiation can be omitted for those undergoing mastectomy, those with small tumors, and those who are node negative. Dose, frequency, and duration can be curated based on age, fitness, biology, and intent of treatment. Radiation therapy is very helpful in the presence of brain metastases, to control pain in the presence of bone metastases and also to control bleeding.
12. MYTH: Chemotherapy is painful.
FACT: Chemotherapy involves the administration of medicines via IV fluids in the form of drips. Putting in a cannula may be painful, but not chemotherapy.
13. MYTH: Chemotherapy means I am suffering from an advanced cancer, and my life will become miserable.
FACT: Chemotherapy is prescribed based on the stage and biology of breast cancer. It helps us to treat micrometastases and prevent recurrence of cancer in early stages and to reduce the tumor burden in advanced stages. Even the early stages of her 2+ and triple-negative breast cancer need chemotherapy. It can be weekly, biweekly, or triweekly, based on the fitness of the patient and disease factors. But with advances in administration and better drugs these days, we see fewer side effects, and these are short-lived and can be easily managed.
14. MYTH: Breast cancer is contagious.
FACT: Breast cancer doesn't spread from person to person. Even those being actively treated with chemotherapy can share food, cook and serve others, play with children, and wash clothes together. They need not stay alone in a separate room. We advise them to use masks in crowded areas and stay away from those with fever, cough, etc., as they are at high risk of infection.
Your Breast Cancer Screening Checklist:
| Age Group | Recommended Action | Frequency |
| 20+ Years | Breast Self-Examination (BSE) | Monthly (Know your normal!) |
| 40+ Years | Screening Mammogram | Annually |
Note for High-Risk Women (e.g., strong family history): Your screening might need to start earlier or include additional imaging (like ultrasound or MRI). Always discuss a personalized screening plan with an oncologist.
Prevention Plan
While genetics plays a major part, a significant portion of cancer risk is manageable through lifestyle changes.
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Obesity is a significant risk factor; keep your BMI in check and maintain a healthy weight.
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Aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week.
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Cut down on alcohol and quit smoking entirely.
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Load up on fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
Conclusion
Gone are those days when cancer was thought to be a death sentence. Breast cancer should only be a chapter in your life and not the whole story. Early detection saves lives. Self-breast examination, a healthy lifestyle (optimal weight, a balanced diet rich in fruits and vegetables, and regular exercise), avoiding habits, and genetic counselling if there is a family history are key for breast cancer. With advances in diagnosis, treatment, and precision oncology, treatment and supportive care in breast cancer have developed very well and continue to evolve. Fight your fears with faith in yourself and in your oncologist. Be breast aware.
If you notice any changes in your breasts or have concerns about your risk, early evaluation can make all the difference. Consult the expert oncology team at Manipal Hospitals for accurate diagnosis, personalized guidance, and advanced breast cancer care.
FAQ's
The 5-year survival rate for breast cancer, which means the percentage of patients who remain in remission after 5 years of treatment, depends on the stage. For early-stage breast cancer, this survival rate is as good as 99%, but for late-stage metastatic cancer, the survival rate is poor, less than 15-30%. Therefore, patients require constant monitoring during their remission for personalized guidance on follow-up.
The first symptom of breast cancer is a lump in the breast or underarm, which can be felt while performing a self-breast exam. Other common early signs include changes in the breast size or shape, skin dimpling or thickening, nipple discharge (especially if bloody), and persistent breast or nipple pain.
A combination of factors, such as genetic profiling, lifestyle habits, family history, and reproductive history, can cause breast cancer.
Yes, early-stage breast cancers can be cured. However, late-stage cancers aren’t considered curable, although they can be managed or treated with a combination of newer therapies and kept under control.
Treatment for breast cancer depends on the type and stage of cancer. Usually, treatment involves a combination of approaches, like surgery to remove the tumor, and other therapies like radiation, chemotherapy, and/or targeted drug or hormone therapies to eliminate remaining cancer cells and prevent recurrence.
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