Breast Cancer, not a matter of ‘national’ or  ‘urgent’ emergency

Breast Cancer, not a matter of ‘national’ or  ‘urgent’ emergency

Subject : Science and Technology

Context:

Breast cancer, by the government’s estimate, is the leading cause of cancer in women in India however it doesn’t qualify as a matter of “national” or “extreme” urgency in the Health Ministry’s reckoning, suggest court filings as part of an ongoing case in the Kerala High Court.

About Breast Cancer

• Breast Cancer is a type of cancer that arises in the epithelium (lining cells) of the ducts or lobules in the glandular tissues of the breast.
• Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer in women.
• It is responsible for one in six cancer deaths among women and has overtaken lung cancer as the world’s most commonly diagnosed cancer.
• Survival Rates: Breast cancer survives for five years after diagnosis exceeds 80% in most high-income countries. However, it is 66% in India and 40% in South Africa.

About BRCA Gene Mutation

• The genes most commonly affected in hereditary breast and ovarian cancer are the breast cancer 1 (BRCA1) and breast cancer 2 (BRCA2) genes.
• Normally, the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes protect you from getting certain cancers.
• They help repair damaged DNA or destroy cells if the damaged DNA cannot be repaired. Because of this, the BRCA genes are known as tumour suppressor or caretaker genes.
• However, in some people, these tumour suppression genes do not work properly.
• When a gene becomes altered or broken, it doesn’t function correctly. This is called a gene mutation.
• So that if you inherit one of these mutations, you are more likely to get breast, ovarian, and other cancers.

BRCA Gene Test

• The BRCA gene test is a blood test that’s done to determine if you have changes (mutations) in your DNA that increase the risk of breast cancer.
• BRCA 1 and an unrelated BRCA 2 are proteins associated with breast tissues .
• Mutations in either breast cancer gene — BRCA1 or BRCA2 — significantly increase the risk of breast cancer.
• Everyone has two copies of each of these genes — one copy inherited from each parent.
• Women with abnormal BRCA 1 or BRCA 2 genes have up to 80 per cent risk of developing breast cancer by age 90 and women with BRCA 1 mutations have up to 55 per cent risk of developing ovarian cancer.
• The discovery of BRCA mutations is of recent origin, starting in 1990. Testing for BRCA mutations became possible in 1994.
• While BRCA mutations are primarily associated with breast and ovarian cancer, there is some evidence of their role in other cancers, especially in the abdominal and thoracic cavities.
• Women linked to the BRCA mutation have considerably elevated risk of pancreatic cancer.
• If BRCA mutation is tested positive for breast cancer, regular breast self-examination must start at the age of 18.

About Global Breast Cancer Initiative:

• The World Health Organization (WHO) announced an initiative called the “Global Breast Cancer Initiative”.
• Aim: The initiative aims to reduce global breast mortality by 2.5% by 2040.
• The initiative will particularly focus on reducing deaths in low-income countries. There the progress to tackle the disease is relatively slow.
• Key Features of the Initiative:
• Guidance to Governments: Under the initiative, WHO will work with other UN agencies. They will provide guidance to governments on how to strengthen systems for diagnosing and treating breast cancer. It is expected to improve capacities to manage other types of cancer.
• Evidence-based Technical Package: An evidence-based technical package will also be provided to countries as part of the initiative. It will incorporate existing WHO cancer tools and products.

Breast Cancer Awareness

• Every year the Breast Cancer Awareness Month (BCAM) is observed in the month of October, from 01 to 31.
• The annual international health campaign aims to increase awareness of the disease and to raise funds for research into its cause, prevention, diagnosis, treatment and cure.
• The pink ribbon is an international symbol of breast cancer awareness.