Need to Know

You can perform SBE as explained in the graphics above. in case you have difficulty refer to your physician or contact one of our volunteers.

Initial mammography images themselves are not usually enough to determine the existence of a benign or malignant disease with certainty. If a finding or spot seems suspicious, your radiologist may recommend further diagnostic studies.

While mammography is the best screening tool for breast cancer available today, mammograms do not detect all breast cancers. Also, a small portion of mammograms indicate that a cancer could possibly be present when it is not (called a false-positive result).

You will feel pressure on your breast as it is squeezed by the compression paddle. Some women with sensitive breasts may experience discomfort. If this is the case, schedule the procedure when your breasts are least tender. Be sure to inform the technologist if pain occurs as compression is increased. If discomfort is significant, less compression will be used.

Mammography is performed on an outpatient basis. During mammography, your breast will be placed on a special platform and compressed with a paddle. You must hold very still and may be asked to keep from breathing for a few seconds while the x-ray picture is taken to reduce the possibility of a blurred image. When the examination is complete, you will be asked to wait until the radiologist determines that all the necessary images have been obtained. The examination process should take about 30 minutes.

Do not schedule your mammogram for the week before your period if your breasts are usually tender during this time. The best time for a mammogram is one week following your period. Always inform your doctor or x-ray technologist if there is any possibility that you are pregnant.

• Do not wear deodorant, talcum powder or lotion under your arms or on your breasts on the day of the exam.
• Describe any breast symptoms or problems to the technologist.
• If possible, take your prior mammograms.
• Do collect the results of your present mammogram in time.

Mammography is a specific type of imaging that uses a low-dose x-ray system to examine breasts, which helps in early detection and diagnosis of breast diseases in women. Mammography plays a central part in early detection of breast cancers because it can show changes in the breast up to two years before a patient or physician can feel them. It is recommended to get screening mammography done every year for women, beginning at age 40 which helps in early detection of breast cancers, when they are most curable and breast-conservation therapies are available.

Hormones are chemicals secreted by the body. These chemicals are responsible for controlling physical development from puberty to old age. Some types of tumours require the presence of hormones to grow. Doctors try to kill such tumours by manipulating the body’s hormone supply. This involves administering a hormone or hormone-like chemical, which counters the required hormone’s effects. This technique, called hormone therapy, deprives the body of the hormone needed for tumour growth. Malignancies of the breast and prostate are especially vulnerable to this kind of treatment.

In earlier forms of the therapy, organs responsible for hormone production, ovaries in the case of women and testes in the case of men, as well as the adrenal glands were removed. This resulted in severe physical and psychological side effects including hot flashes, increased risk of heart disease, men growing breasts and facial hair in women.
Thanks to some new drugs, treatment can stem hormone supply without these unacceptable side effects. Tumour cells have proteins that sit on the cell surface and combine chemically with hormones in the bloodstream, taking them inside and using them to grow. These proteins are called receptor sites. The new drugs compete with hormones for these sites. They are taken into the cell in preference to the hormone and kill the cancer cell from within. The most successful example of this is Tamoxifen, a drug used for breast cancer therapy, which competes with estrogen, a hormone needed by breast cancer cells for growth.

The tumour must first be tested for the presence of estrogen receptors to ascertain whether they will respond. A positive test means that the cell has estrogen receptors and that the cancer depends on hormones to grow and so is likely to shrink with hormone manipulation. The more the receptors, the better the chance of success. Tamoxifen may be used along with another hormone deprivation drug, called aminogluthethimide, which targets the adrenal glands, another hormone producing site. Steroids may be needed while therapy is going on, but once therapy is stopped, the adrenal glands will again start normal functioning.

In an analogous case, the drug Leuprolide has been used to treat prostate cancer by starving tumours of testosterone. However the effect may not last for very long. After a year or two, the body becomes immune to hormone suppression and the cancer could become resistant to the therapy. So doctors are beginning to use a drug like flutamide along with leuprolide to ensure a more complete deprivation of the male hormone. This therapy is especially useful for men who cannot have surgery.

The real value of hormone therapy is in combination with other therapies. They may be used before surgery to shrink a tumour to an operable size or after surgery to mop up or control cells that escaped the scalpel. In some cases this may be enough, but in others, chemotherapy may still be indicated to finish the job. However, less toxic doses of these drugs may then be required.

Side Effects:
Although side effects to hormone therapy are far milder than those to chemotherapy, they should not be dismissed. Men may notice softened skin or larger breasts, while women may develop a lowered voice. Hot flashes can be relieved by daily doses of Vitamin E. Weight gain from steroids can be reversed by taking a low sodium diet and regular exercise. These side effects are all reversible. Side effects must be closely monitored to determine how the treatment is working. If you experience bone pain, for example, it could be an indication that hormones are affecting distant sites. Reporting such side effects to the doctor is very important.

Bone marrow is a soft fatty tissue found inside the bones. It produces blood cells (red blood cells, platelets and white blood cells). When the patient develops disease of the blood cells (anemia, leukemia, or lymphoma) or when cancer treatment like chemotherapy and radiation therapy damages or destroys the bone marrow, a transplant with healthy bone marrow is needed to save the patient’s life. Patients also need bone marrow transplants when they have dangerously low white blood cells (which are needed to fight infection) as a result of cancer treatment.

What the Procedure Involves:
First a donor is identified through a process called HLA tissue typing. The best match is a twin, a brother or sister and finally an unrelated person. The patient is given a high dose of chemotherapy to destroy all the bone marrow in the body. Bone marrow is taken from the donor in the operating room under general anesthesia. Some of patient’s bone marrow is removed from the top of the hipbone (iliac crest). The bone marrow is filtered, treated, and transplanted immediately or frozen and stored for later use. The donor’s bone marrow is transfused into the patient through a vein (IV line) and is naturally transported back into the bone cavities where it grows quickly to replace the old bone marrow. This is called allogeneic bone marrow transplant.

In a newer version of the therapy, called autologous bone marrow transplant, the bone marrow is taken from the patient himself, treated with drugs to kill any cancer cells and frozen. This is later thawed and transfused back into the patient after initial high dose chemotherapy.

The hospitalization period for bone marrow transplant is from 4 to 6 weeks, during which time the patient is isolated and strictly monitored because of the increased risk of infection. The legs in particular are moved often to reduce the risk of deep venous thrombosis. Besides the usual risks associated with any kind or surgery, such as reaction to medication and problems of breathing due to the effect of anaesthesia, bleeding and infection during surgery itself, there are additional risks associated with bone marrow transplants. The major problem with allogeneic transplants is graft versus host disease. This is the opposite of graft rejection seen in other organ transplants where the body rejects the organ as a foreign body. In this case, the transplanted bone marrow attacks the host cells as though they were foreign organisms and drugs to suppress the immune system (immunosuppressive medications) must be taken indefinitely, weakening the body’s ability to fight infections.

The patient will require attentive follow-up care for 2 to 3 months after discharge from the hospital. It may take 6 months to a year for the immune system to fully recover from this procedure. Relatively normal activities can be resumed as soon as the patient feels well enough and after consulting with the doctor. However, vigorous physical activities should be avoided.

Another promising development is called peripheral blood stem cell transplantation. In this, stem cells (the precursor blood cells from which all blood cells develop) are removed from the patient before treatment and returned after chemotherapy or may be received from a donor.

Bone marrow transplant patients are usually treated in highly specialized centers and the patient stays in a special nursing unit to limit exposure to infections. In India, bone marrow transplant is offered only at a few centres, Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi and Christian Medical College, Vellore.

Radiation therapy involves the use of carefully targeted doses of x-rays or other high-energy rays to kill cancer cells and shrink tumours. While given as a preventive measure for early cases of cancer, it is also administered as a palliative treatment for pain relief in advanced cases. Radiotherapy may be used alone or together with surgery or chemotherapy.

Radiotherapy can be given in two ways, either as external beam radiotherapy (external radiotherapy) or as a radioactive implant (internal radiotherapy).

External Radiotherapy: This treatment involves the high energy rays being directed to the cancer by various machines which include cobalt 60, linear accelerator and betatron. The dosage and duration of the treatment depend on the patient’s weight and general health, the type, size and location of the tumour and whether surgery and chemotherapy have been used or are planned in the future. A typical course lasts 4 to 6 weeks with treatment for 5 days per week and a weekend break to allow time for normal cells to recover and rebuild. The attending physician checks the patient’s progress to measure the total radiation delivered.

Radiotherapy is not at all painful. It is very similar to a x-ray but takes a little longer. It is important for the patient to remain still during the process, since radiotherapy must be directed accurately at the same place each time. For this reason the treatment sessions are preceded by a marking session during which the exact treatment spot or area is identified. Once the area for radiation has been determined, it is marked either with tattoo marks or indelible ink to guarantee that the identical area is treated every time. In some cases a shell or prosthesis may be needed to protect adjacent areas during radiation and the marks may be made on the shell. During the treatment, which takes only a few seconds, the patient is alone in the treatment room, but constantly monitored by the radiographer through a viewing window or on a TV monitor.

Internal Radiotherapy: This kind of Radiation Therapy is given by inserting radioactive needles or wires into the tumour while the patient is under general anesthesia. Over a few days, a high dose of radiotherapy is given directly to the tumour from the inside rather than a lower daily dose from the external source over a longer period of time.
The treatment must be administered as an in-patient procedure in a hospital during which time, the patient is kept in isolation. To avoid the risk of exposure to radiation, visitors, doctors and nurses may only visit for a short period of time. Pregnant women and children should not visit at all. Treatment takes a few days after which the needles are removed.

Risks and Side Effects: Common side effects include any or all of the following:
• Fatigue: The body uses a lot of energy during treatment due to stress, regular trips to hospital and the repair work to normal cells exposed to radiation. The best way to handle fatigue is to limit activities and increase sleep. Good nutrition is also very important.
• Skin Problems: The skin in the treatment area frequently becomes dry, itchy, darkened, red or tanned. Do not rub, scratch or scrub this skin. Ask the doctor for a lotion which will not interfere with treatment. Protect the skin from the sun.
• Hair Loss: Hair loss generally occurs in the area of treatment. The hair will regrow when therapy is complete.
• Loss of Appetite: This may be caused by nausea, stomach pain, change in taste and difficulties in swallowing. Maintain a balanced diet and eat whenever possible. A soft diet is best and plenty of nourishing liquids like milk, soup and coconut water. Smoking, drinking alcohol and eating hot, spicy food should be avoided.
• Digestive Tract Problems: Upset stomach, nausea, diarrhea and constipation have been observed when radiation is being delivered to the lower abdominal area. Most of these problems can be controlled with medication, which the doctor will prescribe.
• Effect on Sexual and Reproductive Function: Radiation therapy, when applied to reproductive organs can cause a decrease in the number of sperm or viable ova, reducing the ability to fertilise. There may be a possible decrease in sexual desire and impotence in men.
• Lymphodema: The swelling of the arm due to damaged axillary lymphatic vessels either by surgery or radiation causes the lymph to collect in the lower arm. Lack of vessels and the force of gravity make it difficult to pump the fluid back into circulation causing swelling and discomfort. Take special care to avoid infection and injury to the affected arm.

As with chemotherapy, it should be emphasised that side effects vary from patient to patient and range from none to very serious. Most effects are temporary and disappear once treatment is completed.

Chemotherapy is a kind of treatment that uses drugs to attack cancer cells. It is called a “systemic treatment” since the drug, entering through the blood stream, travels throughout the body and kills cancer cells at their sites. The drugs may rarely be intended to have a local effect, but in most cases, the intention is to destroy cancer cells wherever they may exist in the body.

Chemotherapeutic drugs are chemically designed to target cells that are dividing and growing rapidly. Once they reach the cancer cells, they act to retard their growth, eventually resulting in their destruction.
Chemotherapy may be given at home, in a clinic or in a hospital. The frequency of chemotherapy can be daily, weekly, monthly or an on-off schedule depending on the type of drug, the body’s response and the type of cancer. The chemotherapy is decided on the basis of the type of cancer. The dosage is calculated on the basis of the patient’s body weight and the drug’s toxicity.

At present more than 50 anticancer drugs have been discovered. They are used in several ways:
• Monotherapy or only one drug
• Combination chemotherapy or a group of drugs which work together
• Combined modality or chemotherapy along with other treatment such as surgery and radiotherapy
The drugs are delivered to the affected cells in the following forms:
• Oral (tablet form, by mouth)
• Intravenous or Intramuscular (injected by needle into a vein or muscle)
• Intrathecal chemotherapy (injected through a needle in the back)
Since chemotherapy also affects normal actively dividing cells such as those in the bone marrow, the gastrointestinal tract, the reproductive system and in the hair follicles, most patients experience some degree of side effects, which may include any or all of the following:
• Nausea and vomiting: This is a common side effect of chemotherapy. It can be controlled with anti-sickness drugs (anti-emetics), which your doctor will prescribe.
• Fatigue: Chemotherapy affects different people in different ways. Some find they can lead fairly normal lives during treatment, but many find they become tired and have to take things more slowly. Just do as much as you can and be careful not to over-strain. Taking short naps may help.
• Hair loss: This is the least harmful side effect, yet can be the hardest to bear. The use of a cold compress around the scalp when taking chemotherapy helps stop hair loss to some extent. Hair will grow back surprisingly quickly once treatment is over.
• Susceptibility to infections: When the drugs act on cancer cells, they also destroy normal cells including white blood cells, which fight infections. When white blood cells are in short supply, the body’s immune system is weakened making you susceptible to infections. Any fever should be reported so that your doctor can prescribe antibiotics.
• Decrease in blood cell count: During chemotherapy, you may become anemic. Regular blood tests are done to ensure this does not happen. If necessary, blood transfusions are given.
• Mouth sores and ulcers: Some chemotherapy drugs cause sores and ulcers in the mouth. Regular use of a mouthwash is very important.

It should be emphasized that side effects depend on the type and number of drugs used, that individuals react very differently, and that all side effects are temporary and disappear once treatment is completed.

But as breast cancer becomes an unfortunate-yet-more-commonplace fact of life, women managers in the high-pressure, high-tech world are starting a trend of their own. They frequently choose to continue working full time and arrange their various chemotherapy and radiation treatments so that their careers – and personal lives – will be impacted as little as possible.

It’s a trend that Dr. Helena Chang says she’s seeing more of as director of the Revlon UCLA Breast Cancer Center in Los Angeles. The center is at the forefront of developing methods of early breast cancer detection. It’s also a pioneer in helping women deal with the psychological and social after effects of the cancer.

“Women whose jobs involve a lot of physical activity tend to take more time to recuperate from breast cancer treatment. Women at higher-level, higher-paid leadership positions tend to be more aggressive and handle both job and cancer at the same time,” Chang says.

All of the women I spoke with emphasized that they had the full support of their superiors, and it would not have been a problem to take days or even weeks off while undergoing treatment.

Jeanne required two operations and did take a few weeks off to recuperate. But she didn’t miss a day of work during her regimen of chemotherapy and radiation.

“Work was therapeutic for me,” Jeanne says. “I didn’t want time off. I wanted normalcy.”

Ellen expressed similar sentiments. “I didn’t want to feel like I was sick. I wanted my regular life. It was very important for me not to miss work,” she says.

To accomplish that, the women scheduled their chemotherapy treatments for late Friday afternoons. “That let me work the whole week and sleep on the weekends,” Jeanne says. She was also taking Nupogen shots to boost her white blood cell count. “This was great because it meant I could get the chemo in the doctor’s office instead of going to the hospital, which took more time.”

Ellen’s Friday afternoon chemotherapy treatments were followed by six weeks of radiation, five days a week, first thing in the morning. “It wasn’t until the fifth week that I got tired. But I was determined to make it through the day no matter how many cups of coffee it took,” she says.

In response to life in the ’90s that includes realities such as breast cancer, high-level executives are becoming increasingly sensitize to their employees’ needs to take time off, telecommute or rearrange their schedules to accommodate treatment or family crisis situations.

“Many people don’t want to take time off or ask their bosses for special treatment,” observes Emilie McCabe, a vice president in IBM’s Software Solutions division. “As a manager, I’ve sometimes stepped in and encouraged them to do so. I feel it’s my responsibility to let people know that it’s OK to take time for themselves.”

Chang agrees. “Health takes priority. I understand that women with breast cancer feel more upbeat going back to work for even half a day,” she says. “But I also tell them, ‘You don’t have to be a superwoman. If you feel exhausted, take more time at home. The work will still be there when you get back.’ “

DiDio is Computerworld’s senior editor, security and network operating systems.

Increasingly, breast cancer patients see work as therapeutic. For employers, the issue is telling employees it’s OK to take time off
By Laura DiDio, Managing, July 27, 1998
Jeanne felt the lump in her left breast as she was dressing in the morning. She wasn’t terribly worried. After all, statistics show that 80% of breast lumps are benign. At any rate, she didn’t have time to worry. Jeanne, a vice president and MIS manager at a New York brokerage house in her late 30s, was rushing to catch a plane to speak at a business meeting. She filed the nagging doubts away along with her presentation. Unfortunately, the lump was malignant.
Ellen’s story is similar, but it hits closer because she’s a manager at Computerworld. Like Jeanne, Ellen, who’s in her early 30s, detected her breast lump herself and didn’t think it was cancer. Ellen got the bad news from her doctor at the worst possible time – at the height of Computerworld’s production schedule.
Overnight, Jeanne, Ellen and the five other women I spoke with became statistics. They are among the one in eight women between the ages of 20 and 95 who the National Cancer Institute estimates will develop breast cancer. The American Cancer Society estimates that 178,700 women in the U.S. will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year. And 1,600 men will get the disease.

Side effects from radiation depend on the dose and the area being treated. Common side effects include the following:
• Local skin reactions including itching, redness, or dryness and scaling of the skin. This will continue for approximately 2 weeks following the end of treatment.
• Fatigue. This will gradually go away following treatment.
How long will the treatment take?
That depends on what you have been prescribed. Radiation therapy is generally given in 32 sessions, daily, Monday to Friday. Chemotherapy is administered in 3-8 sessions spaced out at intervals of 3 weeks. Hormonal treatment can be for anything from 2-10 years.
How could this have happened? No one in my family has breast cancer …
Only 5 – 10% of women who develop breast cancer have a family history of the disease.
According to the American Cancer Society, the following factors have been shown to be related to increased risk of breast cancer:
• First menstruation at an early age
• Pregnancy after age 35 or not at all
• Late onset of menopause
• Obesity
• Excessive use of alcohol
• Excessive amount of fat in diet
Even so, seventy-five percent of breast cancers occur in women with no known risk factors.
All women are at risk for breast cancer. The two most significant risk factors are being female and getting older. As a woman ages, her risk increases.

I found a lump in my breast … does that mean … You have breast cancer? Not necessarily. 
Lumps can be due to a variety of causes (e.g., hormonal imbalances) apart from cancer. And as a matter of fact, the majority of breast lumps are not cancerous. However, a lump should never be ignored. You should visit a doctor and have it checked out without any delay. For that matter, you should get ANY change in the breast, like a lump or thickening, nipple discharge, skin dimpling or puckering, color change, pain or irritation to the breast or nipple area checked by a medical professional.

What kind of doctor do I go to? A gynecologist?

No. Gynecologists may not have adequate experience of tumors. Go to a surgeon, or better still, walk into one of CPAA’s OPDs where you can avail of a free cancer screening.
What exactly will happen?
The doctor will take your personal and family medical history and palpitate (feel) the lump. After this, you might be asked to get some investigations done. These could be any of the following:
• Mammogram, ie breast x-ray
• FNAC, ie fine needle aspiration
• Core Needle Biopsy
Based on the results of these tests, you might then be advised to get investigative surgery done.

What’s that?

An operation done under general anesthesia. The surgeon will remove the lump and send it for a histo-pathological examination. A technician will observe the lump under a microscope and determine whether it is malignant or not. This report will come in about 20 minutes, while you are still under anesthesia. If the report indicates the lump is benign, that’s the end of it.
If the lump is malignant, the surgeon will proceed to remove some lymph nodes from your armpit, to try to establish if, and how much, the disease might have spread.
The final report comes in a few days later, after a detailed analysis of the tissue taken from the lump and lymph nodes.

So that means I don’t necessarily have to lose my breast?

Absolutely not. Mastectomy, ie removal of the breast, was the default course of action 20 years ago, but breast cancer treatment has changed a lot since then. Today, doctors prefer to take a less drastic route of lumpectomy (removal of the lump), followed by adjuvant (ie additional) therapy in the form of radiation, chemotherapy or hormonal medication, as the case may be. Mastectomy is now recommended only in the following cases: the lump is large, the breast is small, the tumour is almost attached to the chest wall or the results of the surgery will be cosmetically unacceptable.
But won’t a lumpectomy instead of mastectomy mean a higher risk of recurrence?
No. There are studies, which show that the majority of women with early stage disease – stage I and II, treated by breast conservation procedures and radiation have the same survival as women treated with mastectomy.

What’s Stage I and II?

Stages are a way to classify the spread of the disease.
Stage I Tumor is confined to breast, tumor is less than or equal to 2 centimeters in greatest dimension.
Stage II Tumor less than 5 centimeters with positive underarm lymph nodes or tumor is more than 2 centimeters with negative underarm lymph nodes.
Stage III Tumor is more than 5 centimeters with positive underarm lymph nodes or tumor with extension to chest wall or skin or lymph nodes fixed to one another or internal mammary lymph nodes.
Stage IV Tumor has spread to other parts of the body.

Would they do the mastectomy right away?

Not without taking your permission first. But with cancer, it is always advisable not to delay.

Will I need to be admitted to hospital for a lumpectomy?
Yes. The operation is performed under general anesthesia.
How long will I need to be in hospital?

That varies according to the patient and hospital. Typically the stay ranges from 3 to 5 days. You will have to go back afterwards for the lymph to be drained away.

If things are taken out of my armpit, will it affect my arm movements?
No. Provided you do the exercises, which will be shown to you by the physiotherapist before you leave hospital.
However, since the nerve is cut during surgery, a feeling of numbness in the upper arm is normal.
What is this T1N0M0 thing the doctor wrote on my report?

T-N-M is a system of classification of the tumor. T refers to the size of the tumor. N stands for the nodes that tested positive. M refers to metastasis, ie whether the tumor is spread.

And what’s Grade II? Does it mean things are very bad?

No. Grade is a way of classifying the kind of tumor. It has nothing to do with the Stage of the illness.

OK, now that the final report has come, what next?
Based on the findings, as well as the doctor’s qualitative reading, a course of treatment will be prescribed. This would typically be a combination of the following:
Radiation, the use of high energy x-rays to destroy cancer cells in the area being treated
Chemotherapy, the use of chemicals (drugs) to kill cancer cells or stop them from growing
Hormonal Therapy, the use of drugs that block the action of hormones like estrogen which promote the growth of some cancers
Will I have to stop working?
Not necessarily. In fact, doctors prefer that patients keep themselves busy as it prevents them from brooding over their illness. Just be careful not to overexert yourself. Avoid rush hours while traveling and ask your employer if you can do some work from home.
Chemotherapy … that means my hair will fall out?
Once again, not necessarily. Individual constitutions react in very different ways, and different treatment protocols lead to varying amounts of hair loss. What actually happens is this: the chemicals are designed to attack and kill any fast growing cells that might be in the body. Besides the cancer cells they are targeted for, normal cells also get affected. Hair follicles are among the first to get affected, and so hair falls. Mind you, the loss is temporary. When you stop chemotherapy, your hair will grow back. In fact, many patients have reported their hair growing back thicker and glossier.

• Abnormal vaginal bleeding between periods, after intercourse or after menopause
• Persistent white, brown or blood stained, foul smelling vaginal discharge
• Loss of appetite
• Unexplained weight loss
• Involuntary loss of urine or fecal matter
The cervix is the neck of the uterus, which protrudes into the vagina providing a canal between the two. Malignant cell changes in the cervix usually take many years to develop. Now, treatment for cervical cancer requires minimal surgery if caught early, leaving fertility intact. If the disease is advanced, a total hysterectomy, removal of the uterus and cervix is needed making it impossible to have children. Fortunately, cervical cancer is easily detected with a Pap smear test.
The test is named after the Greek American doctor, George Papanicolaou, who invented it. During a pelvic examination, the doctor first examines the vagina. Then with the blunt tip of a depression stick or a cotton swab, two or three sample scrapings are taken, one from the outer cuff of the cervix, one from the area just inside the cervical canal and a possible third from the vaginal wall. The cells are smeared onto a slide and sent to a laboratory for microscopic examination to reveal precancerous changes, called dysplasia. Slides are classified as follows:
Class I Negative, normal smear with no abnormal cells.
Class II Early dysplasia, slightly atypical. This includes all minor cell changes including inflammation and infection.
Class III Suspicious, mild to moderate dysplasia, cancer precursor, cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN). These are then rated as CIN 1 or 2 according to the proportion of abnormal cells present as well as the degree of change. They may or may not be precancerous.
Class IV Highly suspicious, severe dysplasia. CIN 3, carcinoma in-situ (cancer of the surface of the cervix). Cannot definitely be called positive for cancer, may or may not be malignant.
Class V Positive for cancer, suggests need for further diagnostic testing.
As is evident from the above classification, an abnormal slide does not necessarily mean cancer. Quite a few women do have mild, moderate and even severe dysplasia but don’t develop cancer because the condition is successfully treated. This may take the form of treatment of an infection with antibiotics. Further diagnosis may be indicated by looking for lesions and tissue biopsy, followed by removal of the lesion if necessary.
The whole procedure is quick and painless and provides the best protection against advanced cervical cancer. Studies show that the test reveals abnormal cell changes as much as eight years before a full fledged cancer develops. The test can detect 90% of potential cancers early enough to ensure a 100% cure.
In the West, death rate from cancer of the cervix and uterus has dropped more than 70% since the 1940s when the test was first introduced. The Pap test is the most widely used and effective tool available to doctors for cancer prevention, but it can only be effective if it is given a chance to be used. In India the full potential of the test is yet to be realized since women do not get themselves screened every year. Most women do not think it necessary to visit a gynecologist on a regular basis. For women over 40, the visit becomes even less frequent. In a survey done by CPAA, it was found that most women have last visited their gynecologist when they were last pregnant. This is one reason why more older women fall victim to cervical cancer.
Pap tests are recommended every year for all healthy women over the age of 20 and those under 20 who are sexually active.
Note: A Pap smear does not always detect cancer of the endometrium (wall of the uterus) and ovaries. Always consult a doctor about any abnormal bleeding or pain.

• Women who were married at an early age.
• Women who have had multiple pregnancies.
• Women with a history of having sexually transmitted disease.
• Women who have multiple sexual partners.
• Women whose partners have had multiple sexual partners or who have had sexually transmitted disease.
• Women from low socioeconomic status (due to poor hygiene).
• Women undergoing treatment involving suppression of the immune system from steroids, other diseases or HIV

Cervical cancer is the most common form of cancer among women in India. Almost one third of all cancers seen in women in India are cervical cancers. 2-3% of all women over the age of 40 will develop some form of cervical cancer. Although the average age at diagnosis is 45, cases at 20-30 years have been noted.

• How can cancer deaths be reduced?

By four means:
• Early diagnosis; the responsibility of the patient in having himself/herself regularly checked by a physician; and the responsibility of the physician in recognizing the possibility of cancer and referring for further diagnostic procedures and proper treatment.
• Adequate and prompt treatment.
• Discoveries of newer and more effective means of treatment,
• The ultimate discovery of the various causes of cancer. These last two will come from research laboratories and clinical investigators. From these stem the basic principles of the cancer control programme of education, research and service of the Indian Cancer Society.

• Is there any disgrace in having cancer?

There is no more disgrace in having cancer than in having a broken arm.

• Does cancer usually cost more to cure, than other major diseases?

It often does. Here again, it depends upon the type of cancer you have and how much must be done to treat it. Many hospitals provide free treatment to those who cannot afford to pay.

• Why are quacks dangerous?

For the following reasons, among others:
• Few quacks are medically trained; therefore, they have no fundamental knowledge about cancer.
• They cause the patient to lose valuable time that should be used to obtain correct treatment.
• The pastes and “medicines” used by quacks have no value in curing cancer.
• The quack takes the patient’s money under false pretenses, thus depriving him of the means for obtaining competent treatment in time to enable him or her to be cured.

• How can I tell a quack from a reputable physician?

If a person advertises a cure, guarantees a cure, or employs a method of diagnosis or treatment not generally accepted or endorsed by the medical profession, may he classed as a quack. No reputable, ethical physician will do any of these things.

• Is cancer frightening?

Only if you neglect it. Today more and more people are not only winning their fight against cancer, they are also able to lead normal, active lives.

• Can cancer develop in children? At what age?

No age is free from cancer. Certain forms of cancer, especially of the eyes and blood are most occasionally found in young children.

• If a parent dies of cancer are the children more likely to have the disease?

The answer is no. In many families where a parent has had cancer, the disease does not appear in the children. Again, a person whose family has no record of cancer may develop it. A tendency to develop breast cancer however runs in families.

• Does cancer develop more quickly in children than in older people?

The rate of growth at any age depends upon the type of cancer, though cancer does grow faster at younger ages.

• If detected in time, can cancer in a child be cured more quickly than in an adult?

The cure of cancer has little relationship with age. It depends upon the extent of growth at the time it is detected, and the adequacy of the treatment given as well as the type of cancer detected.

• Do more women than men die of cancer?

No. The misconception that cancer is primarily a woman’s disease is due to the frequency of cancer of the breast and cancer of the reproductive organs in women, in comparison with the more varied occurrence of cancer in men. Cancer in men often occurs in the less accessible areas of the body and is sometimes more difficult to diagnose and treat than cancer in women.

• Does cancer occur more frequently among married or unmarried women?

Reports from death certificates show that above the age of 40, the cancer death rate is higher among single women than among married women of the same ages. Single women have higher death rates from cancer of the breast and married women have more cancer of the uterus. Physicians believe that having the first child around the age of 20 is a preventive against cancer of the breast and that injury at childbirth or having multiple sexual partners increases the risk of cancer of the uterus.

• Is there danger in watching a lump in the breast to see what happens?

Yes, a very grave danger. Time is the most important factor in the control of cancer and waiting to “see what happens” may permit a curable cancer to become incurable by preventing it to spread to other tissues.

• Are all breast lumps cancerous?

No, only a small percentage of lumps are cancerous. A careful pathological examination of the excised lump can definitely determine if it is due to cancer.

• What precautions should be taken to avoid cancer of the breast?

Do not wear garments that press the breast tissue tightly against the chest wall. Every woman should have her breasts examined semiannually by a physician. She should request her physician to instruct her in the proper technique for examining her own  breasts in the erect and reclining positions and should examine her breasts once a month shortly after her “period”.

• How should you examine your breasts?

• Sit or stand in front of a mirror, with your arms relaxed at your sides, and examine your breasts carefully for any changes in size and shape. Look for any puckering or dimpling of the skin, and for any discharge or change in the nipples. Compare one breast with the other.
• Raise both your arms over your head, and look for exactly the same changes. See if there’s been any change since you last examined your breasts.
• Note :From Step 3 to Step 8, you should feel for a lump or thickening in the breast tissues.Lie down on your bed, or on the floor, put a pillow or a bath towel under your left shoulder, and place your left hand under your head. With the fingers of your right hand held together flat, press gently but firmly with small circular motions to feel the inner, upper quarter of your left breast, starting at your breastbone and going outward toward the nipple line. Also feel the area around the nipple.
• With the same gentle pressure next feel the lower, inner parts of your breast.
• Now bring your left arm down to your side, and still using the flat part of your fingers, feel under your armpit.
• Use the same gentle pressure to feel the upper, outer quarter of your breast from the nipple line to where your arm is resting.
• And finally, feel the lower, outer section of your breast, proceeding from the outer part to the nipple.
• Repent the entire procedure, from Step 3 as described above, for the right breast.

• Do uterine fibroids ever become cancerous?
Fibroid tumors only very rarely undergo malignant change.

• Are cancers in men and women different?

There are no fundamental differences in cancers appearing in men and women.

• What forms of cancer are more common among men than women?
Cancer of the mouth, throat, gullet, stomach, rectum, larynx, lung, kidney, bladder, skin and brain are all more common in men than in women.

• Is cancer of the prostate common? At what age does it generally occur?
Yes, cancer of the prostate is one of the most common forms of cancer in older men. Men should be on guard against this form of cancer especially as they approach 60. A thorough physical examination, including a rectal examination, is the only way to discover this hidden cancer early enough for cure.

• How should cancer be treated?

By surgery, chemotherapy, X-ray or cobalt therapy and high density electron therapy or a combination of all these in the earliest possible stage of the disease. All these methods are available in India at various Hospitals.

• Are X-ray treatments good for all kinds of cancer?

No. Treatment depends on type and location of the growth. Some cancers will not respond to X-ray or radium treatment but must be treated by surgery or with hormones and Radioactive isotopes.

• What is the difference in the action of X-rays and radium or cancer tissue?

There is no essential difference. When correctly used both will destroy cancer cells without seriously injuring the normal cells with which they come in contact.

• How are radium or radioactive isotopes used?

Radium in hollow needles radioactive isotope wires are inserted into the cancerous growth are in the tissue surrounding it, and removed after treatment is concluded. Radium or radioactive isotopes in suitable containers may also he placed in contact with the growth as in cancer of the skin or cervix. In larger quantities they may be used at a distance from the body, the rays passing through an opening in the container into the cancerous growth.

• How effective is surgery?

Surgery is most effective in the early stages when cancer has not yet spread. Major advances in plastic and reconstructive surgery, and anaesthesiology have ensured a very high degree of success.

• What is chemotherapy?

Chemotherapy implies treatment with anticancer drugs and injections. Today we have a large number of highly effective drugs for cancer control.

• Can the spread of cancer be stopped or retarded temporarily?
At times only. Certain types of cancerous growths, which can not be expected to be curable, may be controlled temporarily by proper treatment. Sooner or later, however, these growths may fail to respond to further treatment.

• What should you do if you think you may have cancer?

Report at once for a thorough physical examination.

• Is cancer curable?

More than 80% of cancers today are completely curable if treated early. At times, however, cures have been obtained after the cancers have been present for a long time. The type of cancer always has an important bearing on its curability.

• Is it ever possible to state that a cancer has been completely cured? If so, how much time must pass before the “cure” is recognized?

After a cancer patient has been treated and has remained free of recurrence of disease for a period of five years, the chances for reappearance of the tumor are extremely small. (In a few rare instances however cancer has recurred ten or twenty years later, so that a semi-annual physical examination is a must for cancer patients).

• If you have been cured of cancer, can you develop another cancer? In the same place? In some other part of the body?

Yes. Regardless of a patient’s past medical history, including the successful treatment of a previous cancer, he/she should be examined at regular intervals. Because of the tendency for cancer to  reappear at the place of a previously existing growth or nearby, a patient should have a regular follow-up at least every six months. A new cancer may also appear at in another part of the body.

• Is there any known vaccine cure for cancer?

No. A vaccine is of value only against a disease due to a germ. Cancer is not caused by a germ; therefore, serums are of no value in its treatment.

• Is it ever safe to rely on salves to “cure” cancer?

No. No a paste or salve can not penetrate the tissues far enough to destroy deep-seated cancer cells.

• Is there any chemical that destroys cancerous tissue?

There is some evidence that a few chemical substances such as the nitrogen mustards and other chemicals can destroy certain kinds of cancers. This treatment is known as chemotherapy.

• Will hormones cure cancer?

There is evidence today to indicate that treatment with certain hormones may prolong life, and alleviate pain and suffering in certain breast and uterine cancers and in prostate cancers.

• What is Immunotherapy?

Immunotherapy is new development based on the theory that the human body can be taught to defend itself against diseases including cancer.

• What is the latest and most successful of the recently reported cancer treatments?

While many “cures” are constantly being evaluated by various laboratories, surgery, X-ray treatment, and chemotherapy remain the chief weapons in the physicians’ fight to cure cancer. Certain hormones and isotopes also offer some promise of assistance in their fight but it is much too early to claim that they can be called ‘cures”.

• Is any real progress being made in cancer research? Along what lines?

Real progress is being made in cancer research, which has thrown much new light on normal and abnormal growth processes. However, the goal of finding the cause of cancer and thus its prevention is still in the future. Various avenues of investigations have recently opened up on all sides: in chemistry by a study of the hormones and chemicals and the complex role they play in cancer; in physics by application of radioactive materials and the development of X-rays of very high voltages; in surgery by more radical excision of tumors; and of through a study of enzymes, genetics, nutrition, cytochemistry, etc. Scientific disciplines of various types are being utilized to study the complex nature of cancer.

• What are your chances of getting cured?

More than 80% of the patients treated adequately in the early stages can be cured. Your chances of recovery are excellent, if you report for treatment very early after cancer has arisen.

• Can you lead a normal life after cancer?

The sooner you come for treatment, the better the quality of life after cancer. Most cancer patients can return to their normal lives, even during treatment.

• How can you tell if you have cancer without seeing a doctor?

You cannot. A regular thorough physical check-up is your best guard against cancer, plus an examination when one of the seven danger signals or warnings appears. You are the first line of defense against cancer because, you alone, can recognize a danger signal and heed its warning.

• What are some of the early signs of cancer?

There are seven common ones. They are often called the Seven Danger Signals of Cancer:
• Change in bowel or bladder habits.
• A Sore that does not heal.
• Unusual bleeding or discharge.
• Thickening or lump in breast or elsewhere.
• Indigestion or difficulty in swallowing.
• Obvious change in wart or mole.
• Nagging cough or hoarseness.
You should at once consult a doctor upon the appearance of any sign.
• Is pain an early symptom of cancer?
No, except in a cancer involving bone or nerve tissue. Pain usually is a late symptom and when it occurs, the growth is often far advanced.

• Why should cancer be diagnosed and treated early?

The sooner it is found it is less likely to have spread to other parts of the body.

• How long is it safe to wait before consulting a physician?
Any delay is dangerous. Go at once to a doctor and ask for a thorough examination.

• Why are periodic examinations necessary?

The earlier a cancer is treated the greater the chance of a cure. Through periodic examinations cancer may be detected in its early stages, before the individual has noticed any sign or symptom in himself.

• Where can you get a check-up?

Contact Us at our office or any of our volunteers. or The Indian Cancer Society or CPAA etc. runs several check-up clinics. You can find out which is closest to you.

• What comprises a thorough check-up?

Careful inspection of the entire body surface, heart, blood vessel and lung examinations. Examination by sight and touch of accessible organs, such as the mouth, nostrils, ears, throat, chest, breasts, womb, and rectum. Examinations of stomach and intestines by X-ray when indicated. Microscopic examination of blood, urine, and any suspected tissue. In women, special examination of the breasts. Other examinations as indicated, such as of the eye, bladder and prostate by appropriate methods.

• Is the check-up painful?

The check-up takes only an hour and is completely painless. You may phone and get an appointment.

• What is mammography?
Mammography is a special X-ray examination of the breast tissues.

• What is a pap smear?

The Papanicolaou Test, (or Pap smear) is in fact a microscopic examination of the cells exfoliated from the uterus and cervix. The doctor takes a swab from the tissue surface for examination. This test warns patients of the presence of cancer even as tiny as a pin-head or gives evidence of a lesion which is a pre-cursor of cancer.

• Is bleeding always a sign of cancer?

No, but bleeding should be promptly and carefully investigated, to determine if it is due to cancer. A small percentage of bleeding nipples are due to cancer. Bleeding from other body openings, such as rectum or bladder, should be carefully investigated to rule out cancer. Unnatural vaginal bleeding, especially after the change of life can be a very suspicious sign of cancer.

• Does blood in bowel movements indicate cancer?

Movements streaked with bright blood or the occurrence of black or “tarry” stools should lead to prompt and thorough investigation. The assumption that rectal bleeding is merely due to hemorrhoids, or piles, is most dangerous, since such bleeding may be due to a multiplicity of causes, including cancer, which require prompt treatment.

• Does blood in the urine indicate cancer?

It may, but it may also be caused by conditions other than cancer. A careful examination is essential to rule out cancer.

• Is it true that cancer generally develops among people in poor health?

There is no known relation between the status of one’s health and the development of cancer. Regular checkups provide the best safeguard against cancer as well as against various other diseases.

• How can we diagnose cancer of the stomach?

The best method is an X-ray examination. The outline of the interior of the stomach when filled with a radio-opaque material such as barium sulphate, can give clues to the presence of cancer. Chemical tests of stomach contents are also of value. Only in late stages a lump may be felt through the body wall.

• How are cancers in the head and neck region diagnosed?

The most important test is an examination of the mouth and throat with a head light and mirror, to check for ulcerations, growths and white patches on the lining membrane called mucosa. A “Biopsy” specimen is always taken to confirm the clinical diagnosis. This is then reported by an experienced Histo-pathologist in the laboratory. In India nearly 40% of Cancer arises in this region, in men.

• What techniques are used to detect cancer?

Xerographs, mammographs, thermographs, CAT Scans, PET scan ( for better accuracy after initial detection of cancer) etc. are some of the highly sophisticated methods of cancer detection, in addition to clinical and pathological examinations.

• How can one guard against cancer?

By preventing, so far as possible, prolonged irritation of any part of the body. Specifically, protection from overexposure to the sun and wind, prompt repair of all birth injuries to the womb, permitting the breasts to function normally early in life, repair of jagged teeth, avoidance of ill-fitting dental plates, avoidance of tobacco, correction of chronic constipation in short, elimination of unnecessary abuse of any tissue is a common sense method of helping to guard against cancer.

• What is meant by a “pre-cancerous lesion”?

Any abnormal condition that, if permitted to continue, may develop into cancer with passage of time.

• What are some of the more important pre-cancerous lesions?

White spots on mucous (lining) membranes, especially of the mouth; dry, scaly, itching patches on the skin, particularly the face; sores caused by jagged teeth and ill-fitting dental plates; dark colored moles subject to irritation; unrepaired injuries due to childbirth. These should all be investigated by a physician and adequately treated.

• What precautions should be taken to avoid cancer of the mouth?

Keep the mouth clean. Have jagged teeth filed or removed. Do not use an ill-fitting dental plate, which causes a sore on the gums or cheek. If white spots appear in the mouth or on the tongue, stop the use of tobacco and see a doctor.

• What precautions should be taken to avoid cancer of the Skin?

Dark colored moles and warts, if subject to irritation, should be removed. Itching, scaly patches on the skin should be treated before they become open sores. Fair-skinned people, especially, should avoid overexposure to direct sun rays. Recurrent fever blisters on the lip should be carefully examined. Keep the skin clean.

• Should all moles be removed?

No. A flat colorless mole is probably as harmless as a freckle. Bluish-black hairless moles, especially when subject to irritation, should be removed. Any mole or wart showing changes in size or colour or if bleeding should be promptly and completely removed and the tissue examined by a pathologist to determine if cancer is present.

• Can immunity to cancer be acquired as with diptheria or typhoid fever?

Production of immunity is possible only in diseases caused by germs. As cancer is not caused by germs, immunity cannot be developed against it as far as our knowledge goes today.

• Why do many people wait before consulting a physician when cancer may be present or suspected?

Primarily because of fear or ignorance of the signs of cancer and of the vital importance of securing treatment early. Some people also think there is a social disgrace in having cancer and so hide the fact from their physicians and often from friends and relatives. This is not a justifiable attitude.

• Can a tuberculous person ever have cancer?

He can. The presence of tuberculosis or any other disease gives no assurance that cancer may not also develop.

• Why don’t the white corpuscles in the blood kill cancer?

The chief function of white blood corpuscles is to protect the body against bacteria or germs. They kill germs and combat infection. Current research is being undertaken to promote such activity by certain kinds of white blood corpuscles.

• How can we control cancer?

By a prompt visit to a physician, when suspicious signs or symptoms appear. Intelligent alertness by the individual may well save his life. By having complete, annual physical examinations, as a routine. Women over 35 should be examined twice a year. By confirming diagnosis at the earliest possible moment, followed by adequate treatment. By a widespread knowledge, both lay and professional, of the character of cancer, its causes, methods of spread, and by recognizing the value of early diagnosis and adequate treatment, as the means of protection.

• What causes cancer?

Though it is very difficult to pinpoint any definite cause, certain substances, known as carcinogens, can definitely increase your chances of getting cancer. For instance, people who smoke or chew tobacco are more prone to mouth, throat and lung cancer.  Contrary to popular opinion, beedi smoking is twice as dangerous as cigarettes. Amongst other known causes are asbestos, arsenic, pitch, tar, ultra-violet rays. Continued irritation of tissues can lead to cancer.

• Is cancer caused by a germ?

There is no scientific evidence that cancer is caused by a germ.

• Does cancer come from a single bruise?

A type of bone cancer may rarely result from a single severe injury. A single injury to soft tissue, such as the breast, will not give rise to cancer.

• What is the relation of food to cancer?

In certain individuals, Vitamin B deficiency may result in changes in certain tissues, particularly of the mouth and lips, which may ultimately become cancerous. In general, however, so far as is known, no food or combination of foods has any influence on the cause or cure of cancer• but heavily fried food or abandoned red meat is today suspect. Green vegetables, cabbage may help in preventing certain cancers.

• Will irregularity in eating cause cancer of the stomach?

There is no scientific evidence that it will, since cancer of the stomach may occur in people who eat most regularly.

• Does eating hot food cause cancer?

There is little evidence that the temperature of food is an important factor in the development of cancer.

• Does the use of alcohol bear any relation to cancer of the stomach?

Not so far as is known. Alcohol may have an unfavorable effect on stomach tissues, but no more so than other substances taken along with food or drink.

• Is cancer hereditary?

There are probably inherited tendencies that may lead to cancers of different types. The presence of cancer in one or both parents should be a cause for greater alertness in looking for and recognizing suspicious symptoms in the individual. Cancer however is not inherited except for one type of eye cancer known as Retinoblastoma.

• Can cancer be transmitted by kissing or casual contact between persons or between persons and animals?

No. There is no record of cancer having been transmitted by kissing or by any contact, accidental or otherwise, between individuals or between persons and animals (such as pets).

• Do corns become cancerous?

Cancer may occur in any tissue of the body, but a corn could not as a rule develop into cancer.

•  Do freckles turn into cancer?

Simple freckles do not. However, flat moles containing pigment of a bluish-black colour and looking like dark freckles, may become cancerous and should be checked periodically.

• Do piles turn into cancer?

No. Piles or hemorrhoids are merely enlarged veins in the rectal wall. Cancer is occasionally found in the tissue above the hemorrhoids, so “bleeding piles” should be examined carefully to determine whether cancer is also present. Rectal bleeding can occur due to cancer.

• Can one’s mental condition influence the course of cancer?

Not so far as is known. Cancer is a disease of body cells. One’s mental condition has no effect on the course of the disease since this malignant change is apparently due to physical rather than mental processes.

• Does radiation cause cancer?

Indiscriminate use of X-rays frequently may increase your chances of getting cancer.

• What is Cancer ?

Cancer is an abnormal growth of a body cell or group of cells. If it is not destroyed or removed, cancer can spread very rapidly, and eventually lead to death.

• What is the difference between normal and cancerous growth?

There are billions of cells in the human body. Normally, they grow in a well-regulated pattern. When cancer sets in a group of cells suddenly starts multiplying haphazardly and forms a lump or “tumor”.

• How many kinds of tumors are there?

There are two kinds of tumors. Malignant, and benign. A benign tumor is more common, and is generally harmless. It doesn’t grow beyond a certain limit, and it doesn’t spread to other parts of the body.
A malignant tumor on the other hand, never stops growing and can spread to other parts of the body. Cancer is the name given to a malignant growth.

• Is cancer contagious or infectious?

No. Since cancer is not caused by a germ, it is not “catching”, and cannot be transmitted from one person to another.

• Is cancer a blood disease?

No, though cancer cells may move through the blood stream to another part of the body. Cancer can however develop in certain tissues which form the blood cells.

• How does cancer spread?

In 3 ways:
–  Cancer cells grow through the walls of blood vessels and are carried by the blood
stream to other parts of the body.
–  They enter the lymphatic stream and are carried to lymph glands.
–  They grow directly from one tissue to another.

• How fast  does  cancer  grow?

There is no definite rate of growth of cancer tissue, Some types will grow more in a few weeks than other types will, in several years.

•  Is cancer a single disease?

No. the term “cancer” includes all forms of malignant growth. Very many varieties are known. These have certain characteristics in common though such as uncontrolled growth a tendency to spread widely in the body and fatal termination if not treated early and adequately. They differ in certain characteristics, such as location in the body, microscopic appearance, and response to treatment. Their histories of development may be quite dissimilar and it is probable that the conditions which may precede them also differ greatly.

• How can you tell if you have cancer?

The real tragedy about cancer is that it produces very minor symptoms at first. So you could have cancer ––– and not know it. The best way to detect cancer is to have a regular yearly check-up.

• How  does a  doctor tell if growth  is cancerous?

By performing a biopsy i.e. examining a small portion of the tissue under a microscope. In advanced cases, physical examination alone may reveal the diagnosis. But the chances of cure at this late stage, are very poor.

•  Are cancer and leprosy related?

No. Leprosy is caused by a germ. Both the symptoms and the treatment for the two diseases are entirely different.

• Is cancer a modern disease?

No. Even as long ago as 3,000 B.C., Egyptian historians made references to “tumors and ulcers”. Mummies from the Gizeb Pyramids were found to have cancer involving the bones.

• Are some people more prone to certain types of cancer?

Yes. Your life-style may make you more prone to some cancers. E.g. cancers of the Colon, lungs and skin are common in Britain and U.S.A., while cancers involving the head and neck region are more common in India. In women, cancer of the breast and uterus are the commonest.

• What are your chances of getting cancer?

One out of every 8 Indians gets cancer. In other words, there are about 15 to 18 lakh cancer patients in India alone. Though cancer can occur at any age, the incidence is higher after the age of 40 to 45.

Breast Cancer is characterized by uncontrolled growth of cells, which results in formation of lumps within the breast and is known to be the most common cancer among women worldwide.