According to Globocan 2018 data
- New cases registered: 1,62,468
- Deaths: 87,090
The incidence rates in India begin to rise in the early 30s and peak at ages 50-64 years.
On average, 1 in 28 women is likely to develop breast cancer.
In India, the percentage of developing breast cancer is higher in urban areas, 1 in 22 women is likely to develop breast cancer during her lifetime as compared to rural areas where 1 in 60 women develops breast cancer in her lifetime.
Breast cancer was the most common cancer in women being cities like Mumbai, Thiruvananthapuram, and Dibrugarh. The relative proportion of breast cancer in females varied from 14.4% in Guwahati to 30.3% in Mumbai.
It can begin in different parts of the breast. A breast is divided into 3 main parts:
- Lobules – The lobules are the glands that produce milk.
- Ducts – The ducts are tubes that carry milk to the nipple.
- Connective tissue – The connective tissue (which consists of fibrous and fatty tissue) Surrounds and holds everything together.
Breast cancer occurs when some cells of the breast begin to grow abnormally. These cells divide more rapidly than healthy cells, do and continue to accumulate, forming a lump or mass. Cells may spread (metastasize) through your breast to your lymph nodes or to other parts of your body. Commonly, it begins with cells in the milk-producing ducts (invasive ductal carcinoma). Breast cancer may also begin in the glandular tissue called lobules (invasive lobular carcinoma) or in other cells or tissue within the breast.
Breast cancer can spread outside the breast through blood and lymph vessels. When breast cancer spreads to other parts of the body, it is said to have metastasized.