Breast cancer which is known as a malignant tumour starts its formation in the cells of the breast having the potential to enter and invade other tissues and spread that virus to the other body parts. It is prevalent in both males and females. However, the rate of occurrence is prevalent more in females than males.
Among the many forms of cancer, breast cancer has become the most common concern in India especially in some metropolitan cities like Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Delhi as these cities hold major accountability with more than a fourth of all female cancers.
According to National Cancer Registry Programme (NCRP), the estimation of several cancers is likely to escalate from 13.9 lakhs in 2020 to 15.7 lakhs by the year 2025, which marks a considerable increase of 20 per cent. However, doctors remarks that at least one-third of these common cancers are curable.
Cancer Statistics in India:-
According to the reports by the National Institute of Cancer Prevention and Research(NICPR), it is estimated that around 2.25 million people are currently serving through this disease. One out of every two women who get newly diagnosed with breast cancer dies of it in India.
Over 20.8 lakh women were diagnosed with breast cancer in the year 2018 almost all over the world. Breast cancer holds the accountability for 24.2 per cent of all cancers in women. This breaks down to the fact that one in every four cancers in women was suffering from breast cancer.
Incidence of breast cancer patients:-
The term 'incidence means the number of women who got newly diagnosed with breast cancer. In the year 2018, the percentage of cancer patients as a whole was 35.1 per cent that is 205,971 patients got diagnosed with cancer. Out of 35.1 per cent, nearly 27.7 per cent of women got diagnosed with breast cancer that is almost 162,468 women.
Cancer: Mortality Rate:-
According to the Union health ministry, breast cancer is remarked as number one among Indian women. India has a low survival rate with a mortality of 12.7 per 100,000 women.
The term 'Mortality' means the number of death which took place as a result of breast cancer in a particular year. In 2018, around 87,090 women gave their life off breast cancer. Breast Cancer holds the accountability for about 23.5 per cent in comparison to other forms of cancer in India. The death from breast cancer, 1 out of 4 women takes place every 5 minutes between the age group of 50 to 69 years in India.
The percentage of breast cancer from 70 years and above accounted for 15.50 per cent which is almost 25,096 women.
Cancer: Recovery Rate:-
The recovery rate in India is very low since the detection of breast cancer takes place very late. Breast cancer is curable only if it's detectable within the specified time.
According to a recent report by the health ministry, Kerala has got the highest cancer rate in India. Mizoram, Haryana, Delhi, Karnataka falls later in place.
Women must do a self-breast examination to detect breast cancer in the initial phase. Women should do this regularly after turning 30 years of age.
Cancer: Medical assistance from hospitals:-
With the lack of qualified expertise oncologist, public health infrastructure and underdeveloped medical facility mostly vested with commercial interests many patients become the receiving end of one-size-fits-all recommendations from numerous hospitals.
The most common therapy for cancer patients are Chemotherapy or Radiation therapy and almost every treatment delivery centres offer the same treatment option without delving proper into the specifics of particular cancer. Since every form of cancer is unique and demands personalised attention and an articulate way to prevent the patients from it.
As a result of this many people gets conditioned to misdiagnosed, mistreated, or sometimes over treated which means subject to unnecessary procedures leading to unnecessary expenses.
There have been umpteenth instances where the patient got incorrect treatment since it benefitted the doctor commercially by offering a different treatment which bears the expensive cost. The best way to prevent all such expenses is by early detection of this disease.
There are many hospitals in India which provide great service at a cheaper rate and offer very high medical service. Apart from these, ICS and NIA are two cancer oriented insurance that has very low premium with benefits. Some of the hospitals like Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai and Tata Memorial Hospital, Kolkata offers free service to cancer patients with world-class facilities. It does proper justice to Tata's company motto to give the society its wealth back in form of service.
Following are the list of hospitals that offers world-class facilities at a cheaper rate:-
- Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute and Research Center.
- Shree Santram Samadhi Sthan, Gujarat.
- Regional Cancer Center, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.
- ICS Cancer Detection Centre, Mumbai.
- Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology, Bangalore.
All these hospitals provide good services at a cheap rate which would cost less than Rs 1000 a month which otherwise original cost leads to Rs 1,00,000. It also offers free treatment or treatment at subsidised rates.
Cancer: Government Schemes:-
Cancer is such a severe disease that stresses the person not only physically and mentally but also in more and more bouts a lot of financial stress.
Since India's large amount of population falls below the poverty line as a result they are unable to seek costly treatments from the best cancer hospitals in India.
The following is a list of government schemes that would decent financial assistance:-
The Chief Minister's Relief Fund – This scheme would provide a complete financial incentive to those cancer sufferers who are wholly deprived economically from the sections of the population.
State Illness Assistance Fund – It provides financial aid from Rs 1,00,000 to Rs 1,50,000 at a government cancer hospital for financially weak people.
Ayushman Bharat – It is also regarded as Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojna (PM-JAY). It bears all the cost including the cancer insurance premium with pre hospitalisation and posts hospitalisation fees
The Central Government Health Scheme – This scheme is only for government employees, retired officials and pensioners. It provides treatment from cancer hospital at very reasonable and nominal rates.
The National Policy For Women – This scheme is primarily for single, widowed, elderly women, medically weak, financially weak women. The offer can be grant by them through Aadhar linked health cards provided under the scheme.
Apart from all these hospitals that work for cancer patients in India. There is one more scheme from the government of India for those patients who travel overseas for treatment:-
Cancer Patients Concession For Travel By Air – This scheme is intended only for those who are resident of India and who travelled overseas for the same purpose. A discount of concessional 50 per cent on a basic fare in the economy is provided to them through this scheme.