Page 20 - ACCF Essentia | Vol. III | Issue 3 | June 2024

Breast Cancer in a Town in
Breast Cancer in a Town in
Northeast India’s Countr
Northeast India’s Countryside:
side
:
y
i
i
on and Cost-Effect
Early Detect
ve Strate
es for the
gi
Early Detection and Cost-Effective Strategies for the
Economically Deprived
Economically Deprived
(
Lt Col
Lt Col (Dr) Nishant Lohia (Retd)
Dr
)
(
Retd
Nishant Lohia
)
Consultant Radiation Oncologist
Consultant Radiation Oncologist
Kokrajhar Cancer Centre
Kokrajhar Cancer Centre
An Ex Indian Army Doctor and a researcher and administrator with sixteen years
An Ex Indian Army Doctor and a researcher and administrator with sixteen years
of comprehensive experience in all elds of health care. A Radiation Oncologist
of comprehensive experience in all elds of health care. A Radiation Oncologist

with repertoire of experience in all aspects of clinical oncology currently serving
with repertoire of experience in all aspects of clinical oncology currently serving
at Kokrajhar Cancer Centre, the cancer unit of Assam Cancer Care Foundation.
at Kokrajhar Cancer Centre, the cancer unit of Assam Cancer Care Foundation.
Completed MBBS from Gauhati Medical College and Hospital, DNB in Radiation
Completed MBBS from Gauhati Medical College and Hospital, DNB in Radiation
Oncology from Army Hospital Research and Referral. Did Post Graduate Diploma
Oncology from Army Hospital Research and Referral. Did Post Graduate Diploma
in Hospital and Health Care Management and Medicolegal Systems from
in Hospital and Health Care Management and Medicolegal Systems from
Symbiosis Pune. Have written multiple original articles both in national and
Symbiosis Pune. Have written multiple original articles both in national and
international journal and have also peer reviewed many articles. Member of AROI
international journal and have also peer reviewed many articles. Member of AROI
(Association of Radiation Oncologist of India, ASCO (American Society of Clinical
(Association of Radiation Oncologist of India, ASCO (American Society of Clinical
g
Oncology) and ESMO (European Society of Medical Oncology).
Oncology) and ESMO (European Society of Medical Oncology).
evalent
pr
reast cancer remains the most prevalent
reast cancer remains the most
ng
women
c
g
dy
Bcancer among women globally, with a steady
with a stea
loball
y,
ancer amo
i
ge
ncrease in incidence across India, and in all a
increase in incidence across India, and in all age
roups, but particularly in women under 45 years
groups, but particularly in women under 45 years
g
of age, with the average age reported as 50 to 53
of age, with the average age reported as 50 to 53
years in various studies.
y ears in various studies.
This trend is mirrored in low-and middle-
1. 1. This trend is mirrored in low-and middle-
income countries(LMICs) ,where breast cancer
income countries(LMICs) ,where breast cancer
not only leads in incidence but also presents
not only leads in incidence but also presents
a signi cant challenge due to late-stage
a signi cant challenge due to late-stage
diagnoses and limited access to adequate
diagnoses and limited access to adequate
care.
care.
2. In these regions, the lack of infrastructure
2. In these regions, the lack of infrastructure
for routine screening like mammography
for routine screening like mammography
exacerbates the situation, often resulting in
exacerbates the situation, often resulting in
inoperable or metastatic disease stages upon
inoperable or metastatic disease stages upon
diagnosis . Locoregional symptoms such
diagnosis . Locoregional symptoms such
as pain, bleeding, ulceration, and fungation
as pain, bleeding, ulceration, and fungation
g
gu
re: Im
ag
Fi
Figure: Images Showing Varied Patterns of
f
ng
Varied Patterns o
es Showi
affects the quality of life (QOL).
affects the quality of life (QOL).
atin
lcerative and Fun
Breast Mass
U
Ulcerative and Fungating Breast Mass
g
g
3.
3. The consequences of such late-stage
The consequences of such late-stage
diagnoses include not only a diminished
diagnoses include not only a diminished
town in Assam with its adjacent localities lacking
quality of life due to locoregional symptoms town in Assam with its adjacent localities lacking
quality of life due to locoregional symptoms
in cancer awareness, the stark reality of breast
but also the challenge of providing effective
but also the challenge of providing effective in cancer awareness, the stark reality of breast
cancer`s impact became evident. A combination
treatment.
treatment. cancer`s impact became evident. A combination
of ancient and local treatment methods, such
of ancient and local treatment methods, such
During a year long tenure at Kokrajhar, a remote
During a year long tenure at Kokrajhar, a remote
as Kaviraj Ayurvedic treatment and a general
as Kaviraj Ayurvedic treatment and a general
Cancer does not cripple love, it cannot
Cancer does not cripple love, it cannot
pp
20
shatter hope, it cannot conquer the spirit. .
shatter hope, it cannot conquer the spirit
p
p
q