Beyond Mammograms: Finding what works for Indian women

Breast cancer hits Indian women younger, with denser breasts and late diagnoses, making mammography less effective than awareness and self-exams.

- DR MANDEEP SINGH MALHOTRA

Breast cancer is now the most common cancer among Indian women, striking younger and harder than in the West. Today, we see so many breast cancer awareness campaigns across the country and all these campaigns uphold the importance of mammography for early detection. But despite this, almost 40-50% of women diagnosed with breast cancer don’t survive because of late detection.

This reality raises a serious question: Is mammography really the best tool for catching breast cancer early in India?

Let's see why it might not be and what alternatives we have.

In India, breast cancer doesn't follow the same patterns as in Western countries. India’s challenges are unique - younger onset, denser breast tissue, limited access to followup care, and cultural barriers.

Mammography works for Western Women. But in India, it’s not the same. Let’s see why -

• Early onset: Indian women often develop breast cancer in their late 30s or 40s. This is almost a decade earlier than in the West.

• Dense breast tissues: Younger women usually have denser breast tissue. This makes it difficult for mammograms to spot abnormalities.