Current Status of Breast Cancer Management in India

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in urban Indian women. Research data about breast cancer in India is scattered. This review is an attempt to put available information together and compare with western standards. Indian women present at younger age and with advance disease. Due to heterogeneous structure of Indian society, there is great disparity in awareness, education, treatment affordability, access to healthcare and general outlook towards the breast cancer. Treatment facilities are concentrated in larger cities. Survival from disease is poor in Indian women. Here we have reviewed epidemiology, risk factors, pathology and management of breast cancer in India to emphasize the differences in breast cancer of Indian and western women so that we can make necessary changes in management protocol suggested by western researchers.