Early Detection is Our Strongest Shield Against Breast Cancer, Dr. Fiaz Maqbool Fazili
Dr. Fiaz Maqbool Fazili
As the chill of autumn sets in, a familiar hue of pink returns to our global consciousness. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a time marked by both solemn reflection and resilient hope. It is a period where we celebrate survivors, honour those we have lost, and recommit to a fight that touches millions of families. Yet, beneath the awareness campaigns lies a stark and urgent reality: breast cancer is now the most common cancer in the world, a title it also holds in urban India. This escalating prevalence makes the conversation not just timely, but critical. While the challenges are immense, from aggressive cancers in the young to stark healthcare disparities, the central message remains our most powerful weapon: early detection is the key to turning the tide, not merely on survival rates, but on the very quality of life after diagnosis.
The statistics are sobering. Breast cancer’s reach is global and its impact, deeply personal. In the bustling metros of India, changing lifestyles, delayed childbirth, and genetic predispositions have converged to create a perfect storm, making it a leading health crisis for women. Yet, within this alarming data point lies the core of our hope. The profound importance of early detection cannot be overstated. When breast cancer is identified at an early, localized stage, the landscape of treatment transforms entirely. The primary goal shifts from desperate containment to confident cure. The five-year survival rate for early-stage breast cancer is extraordinarily high, often cited at over 99%. This is not a abstract number; it represents millions of women living full, healthy lives decades after their diagnosis.
Beyond the sheer chance of survival, early detection fundamentally alters the treatment experience itself. It opens the door to breast conservation surgery, a less invasive procedure that removes the tumour while preserving the breast. This stands in stark contrast to a mastectomy, which is a more radical and physically transformative operation. The psychological and emotional benefit of preserving one’s body image is immeasurable in the healing journey. Furthermore, catching cancer early can sometimes allow women to avoid the rigours of chemotherapy altogether. For certain types of early-stage, low-risk cancers, targeted radiation and hormone therapy may be sufficient, sparing patients the debilitating side effects that make chemotherapy one of the most feared aspects of cancer treatment. Early detection, therefore, is not just about saving lives; it is about preserving the quality of that life.
The pathway to early detection is a two-pronged approach: recognizing symptoms and committing to proactive screening. Every woman should be empowered with the knowledge of her own body. The common symptoms are a clear call to action: a new lump or thickening in the breast or underarm area; any unexplained change in the size or shape of the breast; skin changes like dimpling, puckering, or redness that resembles an orange peel; and any spontaneous discharge from the nipple. These signs are the body’s distress signals. Ignoring them out of fear is a dangerous gamble. Any woman experiencing these symptoms must consult an oncologist promptly for further investigation, which may include diagnostic imaging or a biopsy. This act of courage—of choosing knowledge over fear—is the first and most critical step in self-advocacy.
However, we cannot and must not rely solely on symptoms. The most powerful tool in our arsenal is proactive screening, designed to find cancer before it announces itself. Annual screening tests, primarily mammograms and supplemental ultrasounds for denser breast tissue, are the gold standard. A mammogram can detect a tumour years before it grows large enough to be felt, capturing the disease at its most vulnerable. This is why the emerging trend of younger women, some as young as thirty to thirty-five, developing breast cancer is particularly alarming. These cancers in pre-menopausal women often tend to be more aggressive, making the traditional screening age guidelines a potential pitfall. This new reality calls for revised, more personalized risk assessments and a heightened awareness even among younger demographics.
This brings us to the heart of the challenge: the gap between medical possibility and on-the-ground reality. Nowhere is this chasm more evident than in regions like Kashmir. The valley, with its unique geographical and logistical hurdles, lacks a comprehensive, state-wide screening program. This deficiency means that for countless women in rural and remote villages, a mammogram is a distant, inaccessible luxury, not a standard preventive health measure. Their first encounter with the healthcare system for breast cancer is often at a symptomatic, advanced stage, when treatment options are limited, radical, and the prognosis is grim.
This is a crisis with a solution. The need for a strategic intervention was powerfully underscored in a meeting between a group of concerned citizens and former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, where the critical importance of preventive oncology, especially breast cancer screening, was strongly emphasized. It was recognized that shifting the focus to prevention and early detection could fundamentally alter the public health scenario in the region. In this direction, one of the most promising and pragmatic solutions is the deployment of mobile mammography vans. These units can be game-changers, quite literally driving healthcare to the doorsteps of those who need it most. Imagine a specially equipped van travelling to a remote village in Machil area or Kupwara or Shopian or Daksum etc.It brings state-of-the-art technology to a community that otherwise would have to undertake a costly and arduous journey to a city hospital. These vans can conduct hundreds of screenings, identifying early-stage cancers and pre-cancerous conditions, and directing women towards further care.
This October, as we are surrounded by symbols of pink and messages of hope, let us translate that awareness into tangible action. Hope is not a passive wish; it is the active work of building infrastructure, funding mobile vans, educating communities, and empowering every woman to take charge of her health. The challenge of breast cancer is formidable, but our response must be equally determined. By marrying individual vigilance with systemic investment in accessible screening, we can ensure that the promise of early detection is not a privilege for the urban affluent, but a fundamental right for every woman, from the bustling cities of India to the most remote villages of Kashmir. The key to beating this disease is in our hands; we must now find the collective will to turn it.
The Author is a Surgeon at Mubarak hospital, Cancer awareness campaigner ,Healthcare policy analyst, Certified Professional in Quality improvement in Hospitals can be reached at drfiazfazili@gmail.com
