Click to play videoNew Delhi: The new urban woman is ambitions, professionally driven and determined to get ahead at any cost.
However, over the last decade, the high stress lifestyle, where domestic decisions are put on the back burner, has triggered the female body to revolt from within, by throwing the hormonal balance out of gear.
More and more women in India are now falling prey to breast cancer and the cases are growing by one to two per cent every year.
Every month about a week before your period, a sudden surge of oestrogen causes breast cells to multiply.
A hormonal error at this stage may trigger off an uncontrolled duplication of the cells, which then mutate and multiply during successive oestrogen surges and eventually form a tumour.
The hormonal imbalance can be because of several factors.
Says oncologist, Apollo Hospital, Dr Sameer Kaul, "What pregnancy and lactation do is protect the breast from the harmful effects of oestrogen.”
If dropping your work, getting married and having a child can avoid breast cancer then what can?
Some simple rules can be followed that include:
- Avoid indiscriminate use of hormones including Hormone Replacement Therapy unless required.
- Consult a doctor before using oral contraceptives.
- Avoid more than five alcoholic drinks a week.
- Do a monthly breast self-examination if you are over 20 years.
- Get a doctor to do a clinical examination every three years if you are over 45 years.
Cancer is a complex disease and almost impossible to predict so it is impossible to categorically state that every woman who has risk factors will ultimately get breast cancer.
However, following certain precautions can give you an early warning.
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