A new analysis by the World Health Organization (WHO) suggests that one of the 20 women worldwide will be diagnosed with breast cancer during their lifetime. If the current rates of diagnosis continue, by 2050 there will be 3.2 million new breast cancer cases and 1.1 breast cancer related deaths per year.

This growth will greatly affect countries with a low Human Development Index (HDI). The new estimates are based on the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) Global Cancer Observatory, which includes cancer incidence in five continents and data of WHO mortality database.

“Every minute, four women find out breast cancer worldwide and die from a woman’s disease, and these figures are deteriorating,” IARC scientist Dr. Joan Kim, one of the writers of the report said.

In India too, breast cancer is the most common type of cancer among women worldwide. In 2022, about 2.3 million breast cancer cases and 6,70,000 breast cancer related deaths occurred worldwide. However, the burden is not equally distributed in different areas.

According to the analysis, Australia and New Zealand showed the rates of highest breast cancer incidence, followed by North America and North Europe, and the lowest in South Central Asia, Central Africa and East Africa.

Meanwhile, breast cancer death was the highest in Melania, Polynesia, West Africa and the lowest in East Africa, Central America and North America.

While the report shows that one in 20 women will have breast cancer during their lifetime, one in 70 will die from it.

Dr, Deputy Head of Cancer Surveillance Branch in IARC. Isabel Sorzomataram said, “This report highlights the immediate need for high quality cancer data and the exact record of new diagnosis and number of results in low and medium HDI countries.”

What are the symptoms of breast cancer?

The most common symptoms of breast cancer include a lump in the breast, change in breast size or size, skin changes, scaling, redness, nipple changes, and swelling in the armpit or lumps.

How is breast cancer diagnosed?

Breast cancer is diagnosed by self-examination in which the person examines his own breasts for lumps or visual changes. Mammography is an X-ray method for detection of tumors or abnormalities in breasts. Ultrasound creates images of breast tissue to examine specific areas of anxiety found through mammography.

An MRI scan can also help provide wide images of the breast. Another method is a biopsy, in which a small sample of breast tissue is examined under a microscope.

However, overall, genetic testing helps determine whether a person is likely to develop breast cancer or not, especially if they have mutations in genes such as BRCA1 and BRCA2.

What treatment options are available for breast cancer?

On diagnosis, there are many ways in which breast cancer is treated. These methods include chemotherapy, radiation therapy and immunotherapy.

In addition to genetic mutation, factors that can lead to the development of breast cancer are lifestyle options such as smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, inactivity, obesity and other factors.