Vijayawada: Women treated for breast cancer need to wait for two or more years before getting pregnant, say oncologists.
The doctors said that there is a rapid increase in breast cancer cases which equals lung cancer in statistics.
The latest issue of ‘Indian Journal of Medical Paediatric Oncology’, reported that Vitamin D deficient and obese women with breast cancer account for higher mortality rate than others. Deaths due to breast cancer has reached 14 percent of all types of cancer patients.
Oncologists say that changed lifestyle is the main reason for increasing rate of breast cancer.
Dr Pokuri Sivaram, oncologist at a private hospital said, “Lifestyle and diets have increased obesity in people. The chances of breast cancer are more in obese women in their middle age. There are more cases of breast cancer these days than that of cervical cancer as awareness of personal hygiene has increased in all the people.”
If a woman in her early 20s is diagnosed with early stages of breast cancer doctors advice postponement of pregnancy for two or more years.
Dr T.S. Murthy said, “The effects of treatment last for two or more years. This can affect chances of fertility and delivery of the baby. If the woman is in her early 30s and expecting her first baby, we suggest fertility preservation treatment to increase chances of pregnancy. But, we recommend two years wait for a healthy mother and healthy baby.”
Dr Sivaram said, “In most households women neglect their health, and avoid discussing pain or hardness in the breast. That’s why we have data of about 3-5 percent of women and their ailments available through all sources. Every year, October is celebrated as Pink October, a month for conducting awareness programmes on breast cancer. We suggest every woman do a self test of breast ailments first and consult a doctor before it is too late.”
