October is Breast Cancer Awareness month wherein oncologists are stressing on the importance of screening for breast cancer. There is also a strong need to address the issue of breast cancer relapse within the first five years of diagnosis and treatment. Relapse in the first two years is seen in 25 to 30 per cent of the cases and this requires to be addressed as many patients do not complete the full treatment and also some tumours have major characteristics of relapse, which requires them to come for follow-ups regularly.
The relapse of breast cancer and subsequent survival rate depends on the stage of the cancer, pathological features and also biological characteristics of cancer. Similarly, survival rate also depends on the age of the patient, ethnicity and socio-economic background.
Stage 1: Relapse rate is 10 per cent.
Stage 2 : Relapse rate is 15 per cent.
Stage 3: Relapse rate is 30 per cent.
Stage 4: Not curable. But oncologists work on improving the quality of life. And 20 to 25 per cent of patients survive for five years.
Relapse statistics
The relapse of breast cancer is a risk factor in every patient. Relapse is dependent on the size and grade of the tumour, the number of nodes involved and the hormonal status. The larger the size of the tumour and more the number of nodes involved, then higher are the grades and greater is the chance of relapse. The characteristics of the tumour are responsible for the relapse.
Dr T.P.S. Bhandari, consultant surgical oncologist at Apollo Cancer Hospital said, “More than 80 per cent of relapses occur within first two years of treatment. Late relapses occurring beyond five years are rare. In a properly conducted surgery followed by chemotherapy and radiation, the chance of relapse in the breast is less than 2 per cent. Most relapses occur in liver, lungs and bones.”Some patients have shown aggressive form of the disease. Studies have shown that this is dependent on the genetic factors where the biology of the disease is aggressive.
Some of the causes for breast cancer among women
There has been a significant shift in the average age of women who suffer from breast cancer in India.
Recent data from the nine registries of the country have shown that more and more younger women, in the age-group of 40 to 50 years, are suffering from breast cancer. The incidence is rising in India and is most common in the cities. Breast cancer is the 2nd most common cancer among women in rural India too.
Dr Naidu N. Bethune, medical oncologist at American Oncology Institute, said, “The problem of late diagnosis still persists in India. Many patients are coming to centers at a higher stage of the disease and the treatment given to them is inadequate or improper treatment protocols are followed.
“This requires to be seriously addressed. Improper treatment is another reason for aggressive relapse of the cancer.”Apart from genetic or hereditary causes which account for 6 to 8 per cent of all breast cancers worldwide, the rising incidence of obesity, late marriages, use of hormones and also excessive use of contraceptive pills are found to be factors which contribute to breast cancer.
Dr Bethune added, “Food and food products are also being considered as a factor but so far they have not been verified scientifically.”
Get it screened
Early diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer results in high cure rates. For this reason, screening at an early stage is being stressed so that the disease is picked up early and cured.
Advanced stages of breast cancer are associated with high relapse rates despite comprehensive treatment.
Early treatment is the cure
Early diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer results in high cure rates. For this reason, screening at an early stage is being stressed so that the disease is picked up early and cured.
Advanced stages of breast cancer are associated with high relapse rates despite comprehensive treatment.
