Breast Cancer: Prevention Is Better than Cure

Breast cancer is a disease in which abnormal growth of cells creates tumours. An extensive study at Bangladesh Medical University (BMU) showed that the number of cancer patients per lakh is one hundred and six, with fifty-three new cases annually. Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer among women. The disease usually starts in the milk ducts; however, in the early stages, it is not life-threatening. So what is the concerning part? The concern for women in Bangladesh is that more than half of the patients start receiving treatment after four months of the first symptoms. Hence, this delay has already occurred long before the entire scenario comes to the surface.
The same study mentioned above suggests that half of the patients (48.8%) have already entered stage II cancer by the time they seek medical help. Stage-III patients experience the most delays. Multiple reasons contribute to these delays. Firstly, poor awareness among individuals is a big barrier. For hidden diseases like cancer, awareness is the first and foremost essential criterion that can help reduce cases. Awareness alone is not enough, as it does not reach every corner or every class in the country. But it surely helps in early diagnosis and treatment.
Secondly, along with a lack of awareness, delays in treatment also occur because people ignore early symptoms. Most breast cancer starts with a painless lump in the breast; other than that, pain in the armpits and irregular discharge can also be noticed. However, people often brush off lumps, expecting them to disappear on their own or due to random hormonal changes.
Thirdly, comes the fear and embarrassment factor: 44% of the patients feel embarrassed discussing breast-related issues with doctors, while 38% had a delay because they feared that diagnosis would lead to chemotherapy. This results in delayed treatment, and the patients suffer a lot more than expected. The last and most prominent reason is finances. Financial insolvency is a key factor that widens the gap between treatment and the patient. According to a report published in an English daily, rural patients face three times more risk of delayed treatment or diagnosis due to financial instability.

These massive gaps can only be erased if knowledge, awareness, and healthcare work hand in hand.   It is mentionable here that various organisations around the world have designated October as a month for raising awareness about breast cancer. However, awareness and healthcare cannot reach the right people if there remain gaps in knowledge and location. Data have also shown that the number of unaware women in rural areas is lower due to a lower literacy rate. On the other hand, girls in high school or college have some awareness of the disease. To raise awareness regarding the treatment of breast cancer, mass media can create a huge impact. Advertisements about the symptoms and the screening procedures must be run to raise awareness among the common people. The government should take more initiative to make screening free for the patients with cancer. The Clinical Breast Examination (CBE) should be offered free of cost or at a minimal amount of cost among all the screening centres across the country.
Healthcare issues such as breast cancer cannot be considered taboo or something to be ashamed of. Timely action and awareness are the only way to provide treatment in time, and just as it has been said, ‘A stitch in time saves nine'; a proper diagnosis and treatment can really save lives beyond count.