Page 8 - ACCF Essentia | Vol. III | Issue 3 | June 2024

Breast Cancer:

Early Detection – Diagnosis – Cure
Early Detection – Diagnosis – Cure

Dr Dulal Kiran Monda
Dr Dulal Kiran Mondal l
Consultant Medical Oncologist
Consultant Medical Oncologist
Jorhat Cancer Centre
Jorhat Cancer Centre
Dr Dulal Kiran Mondal is a Clinical & Radiation Oncologist. Working with Assam
Dr Dulal Kiran Mondal is a Clinical & Radiation Oncologist. Working with Assam
Cancer Care Foundation at Jorhat. He did his medical graduation from Medical
Cancer Care Foundation at Jorhat. He did his medical graduation from Medical
College, Kolkata. He received his post-graduate degree in Radiation Oncology and
College, Kolkata. He received his post-graduate degree in Radiation Oncology and
Radiation Medicine from Institute of Medical Sciences in Banaras Hindu University.
Radiation Medicine from Institute of Medical Sciences in Banaras Hindu University.
He has worked with many prestigious organizations like Medanta-The Medicity,
He has worked with many prestigious organizations like Medanta-The Medicity,
Gurgaon and Royal Cancer Institute, Kanpur. He has many scienti c publications
Gurgaon and Royal Cancer Institute, Kanpur. He has many scienti c publications
in various journals of Oncology.
in various journals of Oncology.
i
ust a med
cal d
agnos
i
reast cancer
i
reast cancer is not just a medical diagnosis; A crucial aspect of my role as an oncologist is to
j
s not
s;
A crucial aspect of my role as an oncologist is to
i
f
Bit is a complex journey for both patients and empower patients with knowledge about their
or both patients and
i
t is a complex journey
empower patients with knowledge about their
their healthcare providers. As an oncologist, I have
the i r healthcare prov i ders. As an oncolog i st, I have condition and treatment options. We ensure that
condition and treatment options. We ensure that
w
witnessed closely the multifaceted nature of this patients understand their diagnosis, the rationale
this
patients understand their diagnosis, the rationale
itnessed closely the multi
f
f
aceted nature o
behind recommended treatments, and potential
sease and the challenges
i
t presents.
i
disease and the challenges it presents. behind recommended treatments, and potential
d
side effects. Education empowers patients to make
More than 50% of the breast cancer patients in side effects. Education empowers patients to make
More than 50% of the breast cancer patients in
informed decisions and actively participate in their
India presents in Stage III & IV. This translates
India presents in Stage III & IV. This translates informed decisions and actively participate in their
care. This approach can motivate the patients and
into a high mortality rate of the disease in our care. This approach can motivate the patients and
into a high mortality rate of the disease in our

their caregivers to ght the deadly disease with
country. Breast cancer accounts for 23.5% cancer their caregivers to ght the deadly disease with
country. Breast cancer accounts for 23.5% cancer
high morale.
deaths in India. Thus, one of the most crucial high morale.
deaths in India. Thus, one of the most crucial
aspects of managing breast cancer is early
aspects of managing breast cancer is early Breast cancer treatment can take a toll on patients
Breast cancer treatment can take a toll on patients
detection. Regular screening mammograms
detection. Regular screening mammograms physically, emotionally, and psychologically. It is
physically, emotionally, and psychologically. It is
can detect cancer at its earliest stages when it is
can detect cancer at its earliest stages when it is very important to prioritise the supportive care
very important to prioritise the supportive care
most treatable. As an oncologist, I emphasise the
most treatable. As an oncologist, I emphasise the services to help patients manage side effects,
services to help patients manage side effects,
importance of annual breast cancer screenings cope with emotional challenges, and maintain
importance of annual breast cancer screenings
cope with emotional challenges, and maintain
for every woman above 40 years of age. Early their quality of life during treatment. This may
for every woman above 40 years of age. Early
their quality of life during treatment. This may
detection can surely save lives. include access to counselling, support groups,
detection can surely save lives.
include access to counselling, support groups,
pain management, and symptom control.
Cancer is a disease of the genome. As genetically
Cancer is a disease of the genome. As genetically pain management, and symptom control.
every woman is different - no two breast cancers
every woman is different - no two breast cancers Advances in genomic testing and targeted
Advances in genomic testing and targeted
are alike, and treatment plans must be tailored to
therapies have revolutionised the treatment
are alike, and treatment plans must be tailored to therapies have revolutionised the treatment
landscape for breast cancer. Today, it is imperative
each patient’s unique circumstances. This requires
each patient’s unique circumstances. This requires landscape for breast cancer. Today, it is imperative
to utilise precision medicine approaches to identify
a comprehensive evaluation of factors such as
a comprehensive evaluation of factors such as to utilise precision medicine approaches to identify
tumour type, stage, hormone receptor status, HER2
c molecular alterations driving a patient’s

speci
tumour type, stage, hormone receptor status, HER2 speci c molecular alterations driving a patient’s
status, and genomic pro

le. It is imperative to work
status, and genomic pro le. It is imperative to work
closely with multidisciplinary teams to develop
closely with multidisciplinary teams to develop
personalised treatment strategies that optimize Breast cancer accounts for
personalised treatment strategies that optimize
s
ce
r
t
ca
eas
B
r
f
unt
r
o
acco
n
outcomes while minimizing side effects.
outcomes while minimizing side effects.
2 3 . 5 % c a n c e r d e a t h s i n I n d i a .
23.5% cancer deaths in India.
(
World Cancer Day
World Cancer Day (2016-2018) theme:
2016-2018
theme:
)
8
“We can. I can”
“We can. I can”