Early diagnosis and onset of treatment can cure breast cancer and the survivors can also have a good quality of life, doctors said at an awareness programme in a city hospital last week.

The prevalence of breast cancer is increasing and it is important for all to know some of the detection techniques, the doctors said.

Self-examination and cancer screening after a certain age can help in early detection, they said.

“We will urge survivors of breast cancer to spread awareness among people that early detection of breast cancer can provide very good results. The rate of survival is also good if the cancer is detected early,” said Partha Mukhopadhyay, the head of radiotherapy and oncology at Ruby General Hospital, where the awareness programme was held.

An official at Ruby said a cancer screening clinic was opened at the hospital. The first 50 patients at the clinic every month can undergo a mammogram (an X-ray to detect breast cancer) for free if advised by a doctor.

Oindrila Biswas, a surgical oncologist at the hospital, said lifestyle and environment are the two factors responsible for the rise in the incidence of breast cancer.

“Environmental and lifestyle matters largely contribute to breast cancers. The genetic factor in breast cancer is lesser,” said Biswas. “Avoid smoking and alcohol.”

Those with a history of breast cancer in the family, she said, should start self-examination from the age of 35. “Others should start the screening from 40. An annual mammogram should be done. Besides, one should also do physical self-examination,” she said.

The website of the World Health Organisation (WHO) says men, too, can suffer from breast cancer.

“Approximately 99% of breast cancers occur in women and 0.5-1% of breast cancers occur in men. The treatment of breast cancer in men follows the same principles of management as for women,” the website says.

An analysis of patients treated between 1996 and 2020 at a city hospital shows that breast cancer was the most prevalent cancer among women.

Saroj Gupta Cancer Centre & Research Institute analysed the data of 1.9 lakh patients who underwent treatment there between 1996 and 2020 to identify trends. The study showed that breast cancer had overtaken cervical cancer as the most prevalent cancer in women.