Breast cancer in India: Present scenario and the challenges ahead

World J Clin Oncol. 2022 Mar 24;13(3):209-218. doi: 10.5306/wjco.v13.i3.209.

Abstract

Breast cancer is the commonest malignancy among women globally. From being fourth in the list of most common cancers in India during the 1990s, it has now become the first. In this review, we examine the available literature to understand the factors that contributed to the high burden of breast cancer in the country. We also provide the landscape of changes in the field of early diagnosis and the treatment modalities as well as the limitations of the Indian healthcare delivery systems (e.g., delayed diagnosis, human resources and funding for treatment). This review also sheds light on the newer interventions and the future of breast cancer management keeping in mind the coronavirus disease 2019 imposed limitations.

Keywords: Breast cancer; Challenges; India; Prospects; Treatment.

Publication types

  • Review