The statistics of breast cancer are frightening, but this also inspires us that there should be no shortage in the effort to reduce them. Instead of treatment, the focus should be on screening and awareness, younger generation should get information about preventable diseases from schools and colleges itself, so that the coming generation becomes aware of diseases and the burden of diseases in India is reduced. Fear is an important factor that prevents women from screening and necessary checkups, efforts should be made to reduce this fear. Stigma and sham are also two barriers that are major barriers to breast cancer screening. Meri Maa Swasth Maa is a campaign in which both mother and daughter are educated about cancer. This program inspires an open discussion in which we get rid of the barrier of shame in talking openly about diseases in the family.
The most important aspect of the battle against breast cancer is awareness, education and screening. Prevention and early detection should be aimed as most breast cancer cases are diagnosed at later stages in India leading to poor treatment outcomes.
Even educated and affluent women don't go for screening test like mammography and don't do BSE (Breast Self exam).
We at Can Protect Foundation have been promoting BSE and screening via various health camps, training programs for health workers like ASHA, ANM na Nurses, workshop in schools and our free android app called Canapp. As more and more younger women are getting this disease it's important to educate youth.