EPIDEMIOLOGY OF BREAST CANCER IN INDIARITIKA UDAY GAITONDE AND NILIMA GAJBHIYEAbstract Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers in the world. It begins in the ducts and lobules of the breast and is characterized by uncontrolled growth of the breast tissue. There are many risk factors associated with this type of cancer like gender, age, inheritance of BRCA1/ BRCA2 genes, age of menarche and menopause, abortion, alcohol consumption. This disease is becoming increasingly prevalent in India, with India accounting for almost one-third of the worldâs breast cancer burden, with over 70,000 deaths annually. This is a survey-based study, which aims to understand the epidemiology of breast cancer in the Indian population. This online survey was answered by 297 Indian or Indian origin adults. Both females and males were the respondents. Results of the study indicated that breast cancer is moderately prevalent in Indian females with the mean age of diagnosis being 53.66 years. The correlation between the age of diagnosis of breast cancer with stage of detection, age of childbirth and the number of children the woman has given birth to was also determined, and the analyses demonstrated that there was a positive correlation between these factors. Increasing awareness about symptoms and seriousness of breast cancer is required to prevent high mortality from the disease. |