In the year 2025, Breast Cancer remains the leading cancer among Indian women, yet an astonishing statistic from a recent national survey has shocked public health experts. It has been found that, only 1.3% of women over the age of 45 in India have ever had a mammogram. That means nearly 99 out of every 100 women at risk are not being screened, even in metro cities like Delhi and Mumbai. The consequences that’s happening because of this is, most breast cancer cases are getting detected at advanced stages, when treatment is harder, extremely expensive, and the survival chances reduce drastically.
The reason was also looked at regarding what’s stopping the women then? The reasons that were found included stigma, fear, and the idea that “if nothing feels wrong, then there is no need to check”. Many women also avoided screening due to discomfort, embarrassment, and lack of complete awareness.
But there is still hope. In Pune, very recently, a mobile screening van reached over 6.3 lakh women in just three months catching cancers early in few women. In Uttarakhand also, recently local health workers trained by AIIMS Rishikesh helped women learn how to examine themselves and recognize the early signs soon, raising awareness from 5% to 95% in just weeks. These examples show that what is possible when communities come together. Now the question is, what more can we do?
Why do so many women still avoid breast cancer screening?
Should breast exams and awareness be part of everyday health checkups, just like blood pressure or sugar tests?
What small action can you take to help one woman know more or check sooner?
They avoid because of discomfort and shyness, lack of awareness, fear, anxiety, cost and accessibility. There is need to spread awareness and make facilities more accessible and cost effective to protect womens health.
They may be uncomfortable and you know how the scan is taken so it is hard for them to take an scan .
It should be taken along with bp , sugar level etc., at least it should be taken 3 or 6 months once .
We should teach them about the consequences and need to take them to hospital for mammogram scan atleast once
It’s heartbreaking to see women avoid it because of fear or shame. Just like we go for BP or sugar checks, breast exams should also be normal and regular. Early detection can save lives.
Lack of awareness is one of the biggest problem here. Many women especially in rural areas have no idea about this. They think only if they are not feeling well it’s time to go to hospital. The concept of early screening is very new here. And even if they know, they feel shy to get checked up. More awareness and screening programs must be undertaken.
Fear, stigma, and nothing feels wrong still stop women from early screening.
One small conversation today can save a life tomorrow. Let’s talk, let’s check, let’s care.
I think these sort of preventative measures are still very stigmatized and taboo in India, and a lot of women prefer not to go through supposedly intrusive procedures unless they really have to. But prevention is better than cure, and this is a message that can only be shared through awareness.
maybe the fear , anxiety , judgements , if something comeup in result , society judgments like " she is modern girl , of course she did some wrong , that why she is suffering from this .
