Breast Cancer: The Silent Epidemic We Still Don't Talk About Enough
We hear about breast cancer constantly, yet most people still avoid discussing it openly. This silence creates a major problem. Breast cancer is not some distant threat affecting only "other people." It strikes close to home, and the statistics demand our attention.
Alarming Numbers Tell a Troubling Story
Globally, approximately 2.3 million women received a breast cancer diagnosis in 2022. About 670,000 women died from the disease that same year. The situation in India is particularly concerning. Breast cancer has quietly become the most common cancer among Indian women, surpassing other cancers that previously held the top spot.
Every few minutes, another Indian woman learns she has breast cancer. Far too many women discover their diagnosis only when the disease has already reached an advanced stage. This delay often leads to worse outcomes and more difficult treatments.
Why Awareness Matters More Than Ever
Raising awareness about breast cancer serves three critical purposes. First, early detection saves lives. When doctors catch breast cancer early, treatments prove far more effective. Survival rates increase dramatically with timely intervention.
Second, awareness breaks down fear and stigma. Many women ignore potential symptoms like lumps, nipple changes, or unusual discharge. They feel embarrassed, scared, or simply unsure what these signs mean. Open conversations can empower women to seek help sooner.
Third, a significant gap exists between knowing and doing. While many women recognize the term "breast cancer," far fewer actually schedule regular screenings or perform proper self-examinations. Bridging this gap requires consistent education and accessible healthcare resources.
New Diagnostic Tools Offer Fresh Hope
The good news is that breast cancer testing and treatment continue to advance rapidly. Modern approaches extend beyond traditional mammograms. Doctors now use blood tests, genetic screenings, and advanced imaging techniques to identify problems earlier than ever before.
Treatments have also evolved substantially. Targeted therapies and personalized medicine allow doctors to tailor care specifically to each patient. This represents a major shift away from older one-size-fits-all approaches.
Breakthrough Blood Test Monitors Treatment Response
A research team from The Institute of Cancer Research in London recently developed a promising blood test. This test helps determine how well patients with advanced breast cancer respond to targeted therapies. The study findings appear in the Clinical Cancer Research journal.
The researchers analyzed blood samples from patients for circulating tumor DNA, known as ctDNA. Cancer cells release this genetic material into the bloodstream. The team observed a strong association between low ctDNA levels at treatment start and positive treatment response. A similar association appeared after just four weeks, equivalent to one treatment cycle.
Understanding Circulating Tumor DNA
Dr. Arun Kumar Goel, Chairman of Surgical Oncology at Andromeda Cancer Hospital, explains ctDNA clearly. "Circulating tumor DNA contains pieces of genetic material shed from cancer cells that circulate in the bloodstream. Genetic changes associated with the tumor can be detected in the ctDNA," he states.
"Measuring ctDNA amounts over time allows clinicians to assess treatment response. Decreasing ctDNA indicates a patient is responding well. Increasing ctDNA suggests the patient has developed resistance or experienced disease progression, often before MRI or PET scans detect these changes," Dr. Goel adds.
Important Limitations and Practical Applications
Dr. Goel emphasizes that low ctDNA levels do not guarantee a good outcome. "While low or undetectable ctDNA indicates probable cure, this alone does not assure the patient will remain disease-free. Some tumors shed only small amounts of ctDNA. The disease might be present but undetectable at microscopic levels, or hidden in sanctuary sites like the brain," he clarifies.
"Although ctDNA clearance usually associates with better prognosis, relapse may still occur. Therefore, we should regard ctDNA as a risk factor rather than a definitive predictor of future disease activity," Dr. Goel explains.
The oncologist notes that ctDNA testing can reduce the need for invasive biopsies in specific situations. These include tracking treatment success, discovering resistance mutations, or when obtaining tissue samples proves difficult. However, ctDNA testing cannot replace biopsies entirely.
"Biopsies still serve important roles in initial diagnosis, tumor grading, and enabling pathologists and immuno-histochemists to conduct in-depth analysis," Dr. Goel concludes.
Medical experts consulted for this article include Dr. Arun Kumar Goel, Chairman of Surgical Oncology at Andromeda Cancer Hospital. His inputs help explain the recent study findings from The Institute of Cancer Research in London.
