Breast Cancer Awareness month is a global healthcare event for the awareness of breast cancer, which is reminisced for the entire month of October every year for the past 37 years. Ruby General Hospital, Ruby Cancer Centre and Ruby Cancer Care & Research Foundation have joined hands every year to reduce the incidence of breast cancer by spreading awareness regarding the necessity of the early diagnosis of breast cancer, its treatment and preventive tips to avoid the ailment through promotion of screening & prevention of the disease. About 25.8 per 100,000 women and mortality rates of 12.7 per 100,000 women, breast cancer is now the leading cancer in Indian women. With an expected 2.3 million new cases in 2020 (11.7% of all cancer cases), it is the leading cause of global cancer incidence. Between 1965 and 1985 there was nearly a 50% increase of breast cancer incidence in India. The above figures are enough to understand the death toll of breast cancer and the complex rate in which the incidence of breast cancer is increasing. Very soon it will become a part of anyone’s life.
This year, Ruby General Hospital had organized a Press Meet in the hospital on 30th October regarding Breast Cancer Awareness and also presented a very unique success story of a 17 year old international patient who recently got treated at Ruby Cancer Centre and is going to return to his country very soon. The patient and family had also been present at the Press Meet.
The press meet had been opened by Dr. Sudeshna Lahiri, Deputy Medical Director, who spoke about the importance of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, followed by Dr. Partha Mukhopadhyay, HOD Radiotherapy and Oncology, who emphasized on the necessity of Breast Cancer Awareness and also stated the technological advancements in Breast Cancer treatment in Radiotherapy. Dr. Sudipta Bandyopadhyay, Senior Medical Oncologist harped on the importance of early detection and advancements in medical oncology for breast cancer treatment, while, on the other hand Dr. Sandip Sarkar, Radiation Oncologist, enlightened everybody about the rising incidence of breast cancer among the male population. This was followed by Dr. Abhijit Paul, Medical Director, who made two very important announcements for better access to Breast Cancer prevention and care. The first announcement being a Lifetime Free Breast Cancer Screening Clinic at Ruby General Hospital (Seven days a week) and also that the first 50 patients of every month in this clinic will be able to avail mammogram facility absolutely free of cost if advised by the doctor. Following that, quite a few preventive tips on breast cancer prevention had been shared by Dr. Oindrila Biswas, Surgical Oncologist and the role of surgery in the treatment of breast cancer. She also presented the unique case of a 17 year old young man from a foreign country (Bangladesh) who had been diagnosed with Osteosarcoma (A type of bone cancer) of left upper humerus. The young man had been advised for amputation of the limb in his country and also in Chennai. They came to Kolkata which had been their last hope. Limb Salvage Surgery (LSS) and Megaprosthesis Reconstruction with expandable Unipolar custom made Titanium was planned after a thorough work up and Tumour Board at Ruby Cancer Centre. The surgery was performed on 14th October, 2024. On the second post operative day, rehabilitation was started and discharged on the seventh post operative day with forearm and hand function intact. The patient and his family had been present and they shared their experience and gratitude. Noted film director, actor and writer Ms. Sudeshna Roy had been present and shared her insights on Breast Cancer Awareness. Quite a few cancer survivours had also been present and shared their experience which is a motivation for the masses to fight this lifestyle disease by spreading 3 important messages :
1. Breast Cancer is very common these days, so be alert. It can happen to anyone .
2. Breast Cancer can be completely cured, if detected early.
3. Simple things like regular self breast examination and annual breast cancer screening mammogram after the age of 40 can help in early detection.