Comprehensive Overview of Breast Cancer in India

Abstract

Purpose: Breast cancer remains a significant public health challenge globally, as well as in India, where it is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in females. Significant disparities in incidence, mortality, and access to health care across India's sociodemographically diverse population highlight the need for increased awareness, policy reform, and research.

Design: This review consolidates data from national cancer registries, global cancer databases, and institutional findings from a tertiary care center to examine the epidemiology, clinical challenges, and management gaps specific to India. It focuses on early detection barriers, health care infrastructure, and treatment accessibility, while discussing policy-level interventions and evolving models of care delivery.

Results: India reports over 1.4 million cancer cases and 0.9 million cancer-related deaths annually. Challenges include a lack of trained health care providers, limited access to screening, delayed diagnosis, and unequal treatment availability. Challenges include a lack of trained health care providers, limited access to screening, delayed diagnosis, and unequal treatment availability. High mortality is compounded by poor penetrance of screening biomarkers, late-stage presentation, and limited access to cost-effective diagnostics. Despite adherence to standard treatment protocols, systemic barriers continue to limit outcomes. Advances in tumor biology and the introduction of tailored, patient-centric approaches such as the hub-and-spoke care model present promising strategies.

Conclusion: This article summarizes our current understanding of breast cancer epidemiology, its geographical diversity, and policy amendments needed for effective management in a populous nation like India. Bridging the gap between groundbreaking research and patients with cancer, families, and caregivers, and educating and empowering patients, identifying barriers, and gaining a deeper understanding of the needs of the community are all vehemently needed.