Breast cancer is quietly spreading to other parts of the body, directly attacking bones in 25% of cases.

News Topical, Digital Desk :The mere mention of cancer strikes fear, but what if this disease quietly spreads to other parts of the body?

A deeply concerning and eye-opening report has emerged on the state of breast cancer in India. According to research published in the journal "The Lancet Regional Health Southeast Asia," among thousands of Indian women battling cancer, the disease is not confined to its initial site.

Yes, statistics have revealed that in about 13 percent of cases, breast cancer has spread to other parts of the body, a serious condition known in medical terms as metastasis.

Bones are suffering the most damage

The study, conducted by the ICMR's National Institute of NCD Epidemiology in Bengaluru, examined data from 76,356 women between 2009 and 2020 as part of the National Cancer Registry Program. The findings revealed that approximately 13% of women had breast cancer that had spread to other parts of the body.

It's worth noting that when this cancer spreads, the bones are most affected. Of the total cases of metastasis, 25.1% (2,487 women) had cancer that had reached the bones.

Furthermore, the data also revealed that the risk of cancer spread was higher between 2015-2020 compared to the initial years of 2009-2014.

The condition of the tumor, not age, is the real cause

It is generally believed that a patient's advanced age or pre-existing medical conditions accelerate the spread of cancer, but research has changed this belief:

• Nature of the tumor: The spread of cancer does not primarily depend on the age of the patient, but rather on the nature of the tumor.
• Size and grade: If the tumor is larger than 3 centimeters or has a high grade, the risk of spread is significantly increased. Furthermore, the cancer's spread to lymph nodes and blood vessels can make it more dangerous.
• Comorbidities: Having comorbidities alone does not increase the risk. However, in certain categories, such as postmenopausal women or those with "luminal B," the risk of metastasis may be slightly higher if multiple health conditions coexist.

There is a huge difference between the statistics of government and private hospitals.

The study also revealed an important pattern regarding healthcare facilities. Patients treated at private, NGO, and general hospitals had lower rates of cancer progression at initial diagnosis, while those treated at government and specialized cancer centers had higher rates.

According to the researchers, this is no coincidence but a reality of our healthcare system. It reflects the vast disparities in access to testing facilities, timely treatment, and infrastructure across different regions.

Experts' tips for prevention and improvement

To prevent cancer from reaching this serious stage, researchers recommend some fundamental changes to the health system:

• Community Screening: Breast cancer screening facilities should be rapidly expanded at the grassroots and rural levels of society.
• Simple referral process: Simplify the process of referring patients from primary health centres and district hospitals directly to cancer specialists or specialized centres without any delay.
• Promotion of national schemes: Health programmes running across the country should be expanded so that diseases can be identified in the early stages.

Adopting these improvements can not only lead to early detection of the disease but also significantly reduce the growing burden of metastatic breast cancer in India.

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