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Common myths and facts of Breast cancer

Breast Cancer Doctors in Bangalore | Dr. Murali Subramanian is one of the Best Cancer Specialist in Bangalore. Breast cancers have become a very common disease nowadays. People are getting conscious about this disease. However, there are lots of myths that create misconceptions among the general public and hamper their preventive effort toward this evil disease. Let’s know the fact against those myths.

Myth 1: Maintaining a healthy lifestyle, e.g. healthy diet, regular exercises, limited alcohol consumption, and regular exercise eliminate the risk of breast cancer.

Fact: These lifestyle behaviors lower the risk but can’t eliminate it. 

Presently no one is 100% safe from breast cancer. Yes, it’s always better to take precaution and lots of evidence is there that proves a healthy lifestyle lowers the risk of breast cancer to a greater extent. But again I am saying it can’t assure you that you will not have it. So, I would suggest, besides your healthy lifestyle also do a regular screening of breast cancer. This disease can be treated better as early as it gets disorganized. 

Myth 2: Use of underarm antiperspirants can cause breast cancer.

Fact: No evidence is found until now. But yes, studies are under process.

The fact it few studies have revealed absorption of aluminum and other chemical containing product through the lymph increase the concentration aluminum in breast tissues. Sometimes, not always, a higher concentration of aluminum in breast tissue might cause cancer. Harmful chemical free antiperspirant has a connection with breast cancer.

Myth 3: If my family history is free from breast cancer, I am safe.

Fact:  Most of the diagnosed patient has no such family history of breast cancer.

Only 5 to 10% of breast cancer patient owns a family history of the same disease. Rests don’t have any cancer patient in their family.

Myth 4: Wearing a tight bra causes breast cancer.

Fact: No evidence is there.

It’s true, extra tight bra hampers limit the flow of lymph flow out of your breast and encourage the toxic substance build-up. But no evidence is there that proves the direct link between wearing a bra and breast cancer.

Myth 5: Keeping mobile phones inside the bra causes breast cancer.

Fact: No evidence yet. But the safety measures of mobile phone rays are under study.

Researchers are going on to evidence if there is any link between the radiofrequency of mobile phones and cancer but still not proved. However, it better not to carry a mobile in bra.

Myth 6: Annual mammogram guarantees the early detection of breast cancer.

Fact: Although it’s not false completely. Yet, there have been cases in which mammograms failed to detect breast cancer at an early stage.

There is no doubt mammography has been the best tool for detecting breast cancer till death but still, there are 20% cases, in which mammograms missed out on the early-stage detection of this disease. 

Myth 7: Consumption of excessive sugar causes breast cancer.

Fact: No such evidence is there that proves sugar-rich food cause breast cancer.

Cancer cell consumes for sugar than normal cells but it doesn’t mean eating more sugar-rich food will cause cancer.

Myth 8: I don’t have any lump in my breast so I don’t have breast cancer.

Fact: The lump might not form in case of breast cancer, especially during the early stage.

In some cases we find, cancer gets already spread to lymph but there is no lump in the breast. 

Myth 9: If treated at an early stage there will be no chance of recurrence. 

Fact: There always remains the possibility of cancer to reappear. 

The chances of recurrence lie between 15 to 20%.

Myth 10: Breast cancer attack only to women of middle and older age. 

Fact: Breast cancer does have age preferences; even it can attack the men.

As you grow older the risk of breast cancer gets increases but you can have this disease at any age. Even men can also experience breast cancer.

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Smoking and Lungs Cancer

Lung Cancer Treatment in Bangalore | Dr. Murali Subramanian | Get Lung Cancer Treatment and diagnosis from our Cancer Specialist in Bangalore. This blog is to all smokers, past smokers who are living with the fear of lung cancer, and those who are very confident about not getting attacked by this disease even after smoking.

Cancer has already become evil to our civilization. Apart from several risk factors smoking is the topmost risk factor of lung cancer. Around 90% of lung cancer deaths cause due to smoking.

  • Risks in active smokers. Smoking cigarettes increase the risk of lung cancer by 15 to 30 times. Even you smoke 1 to 2 cigarettes a day; you take yourself closer to the risk of lung cancer by the risk 3 to five times. Trachea and bronchus are the two parts of the lungs that get mostly affected by smoking caused cancer.
  • Risk in second-hand smokers. Some people think that only active smoking causes lung cancer. But researches show the majority of non-smoker lung cancer patients have a history of staying around or living with regular or chain smokers.
  • In actual the traces of cancer-causing chemicals in tobacco smoke has a greater occurrence in a second-hand smoker than the active smoker. If you are living with a chain smoker then your risk of getting lung cancer increases by 20 to 30 percent.
  • The most alarming point is that there is no ‘safe’ level in case of such second-hand smoker.
Smoking and Lung Cancer | Lung Cancer Treatment in Bangalore
  • Risk in Smokers who already quit smoking. I have heard a lot of people saying, ‘I have smoked for long. So quitting now will not provide any effect on my lung cancer risk.’ Somehow it’s true. Long-term smoking causes permanent damage to different parts of our lungs making it more feasible to cancer attack but quitting smoking at any stage lower the risk of severity of this disease. It benefits you with better tolerance power to the cancer treatments. Even quitting smoking at age of 30 might lower your cancer risk by 90 percent while quitting at 50 lower the risk by 50 percent.
  • Pipe, cigar, bidis, or hookah.  I found a very common myth among people that smoking cigar, bidis, or hookahs are associated with a lower risk of lung cancer. This is completely wrong. These tobacco materials contain more tar than cigarettes, leading to a greater risk of lung cancer than cigarette smokers.
  • Antioxidant vitamins. If you think that you will continue smoking and consume antioxidant vitamins at the same time to inhibit lung cancer risk. Yes, you can reduce the risk but can’t undo it. Even there are lots of proofs that reveal the activities of antioxidant vitamins are lower in the case of a smoker than the nonsmokers.
  • E-cigarettes. This has already been banned in India. If you from another country and using as an option of quitting smoking then you should be aware of a few facts.
  • FDI found several cancer-causing substances in half of the sample they tested.
  • Most of the components are still unknown.
  • Since you are getting nicotine hit, hence it’s discouraging your smoking quitting effort.

Tips to lower the risk of lung cancer from smoking

Smokers | Lung Cancer Treatment in Bangalore

For Non-smokers

  • Don’t start smoking, even occasionally.
  • Avoid standing around the person, who is smoking.
  • Follow a healthy diet, rich in antioxidant vitamins, do an ample amount of physical exercise.
  • Try to generate awareness among smokers.

For Ex-smokers

  • Apart from following the recommendation for non-smokers, carry out an annual lung cancer screening test for at least 15 years after smoking cessation.

For smokers, the only suggestion as of now is, ‘Stop smoking immediately.’

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Risk Factor for Breast Cancer

Breast Cancer Specialist in Bangalore | Dr. Murali Subramanian

The rate of new breast cancer cases is in rapid hike nowadays. As per WHO’s analysis, this rate might increase to 50% by the end of 2020, with around 15 million new cases.

While things are going beyond our hands, still we can at least remain conscious about this disease to ensure a better handling plan for it.

In this article, let’s know about the various risk factors that boost up the possibility of breast cancer.

Risk Factors | Breast Cancer Specialist in Bangalore

The risk factor for breast cancer is mapped under two types:

  1. Controllable
  2. Uncontrollable

1. Controllable factors

  • Obesity. Besides breast cancer, obesity has become an additional threat to the entire world. Among all of its downsides, the increased risk of breast cancer is the most concerning one. Apart from general obesity, most of the women face post-menopausal weight gaining. Excessive fat tissues boost up the estrogen level, leading to a higher risk of breast cancer. Weight gain during adulthood and excessive fat around the waist also increase the risk.
  • Diet. Ongoing researches indicate consumption of foods with a higher level of fat increase the risk of breast cancer. Tans-fat rich foods, processed meat, smoked foods fall under this category.
Controllable Factors | Breast Cancer Specialist in Bangalore
  • Alcohol consumption. I have found many women saying that they consume a limited amount of alcohol. But the fact is, even a small amount of alcohol opens up the possibility of breast cancer. The percentage of risk rises as the alcohol consumption amount increases.  
  • Smoking: Although it has the lowest effect on breast cancer, still it smoking boosts the risk of breast cancer by 1 percent. 
  • Oral Contraceptive pill: Use of oral contraceptive pill also increases the risk of breast cancer to some extent. However, the risk persists only up to 10 years after you stop taking the pills. 

These were the risk factors that you can control by changing your lifestyles a bit.

2. Uncontrollable Factors

  • Age: Here, you have to accept a hard truth. As you are growing older, the more you are getting exposed to the risk of breast cancer. The possibility of breast cancer is 1 in 225 women between the ages of 30 to 39 but for age above 60, the number becomes 1 in 29.
  • Gender: While women are more exposed to breast cancer due to ever-changing breast cell growth and the activities of the female hormone, men can also suffer from this disease.
  • Race: Researches and surveys reveal that European women are more likely to get attacked by breast cancer than Asian and Native American women. 
  • Family and personal history of breast cancer. Sorry to say, but if your first degrees relative like mother, father, sister has a history of breast cancer then you are at a high risk of disease. The risk factor becomes stronger for you if your relative had breast cancer before the age of 50.
  • Radiation therapy. If you received any chest radiation therapy in your childhood and young adult stage of life, then you might get breast cancer at a later age. 
Uncontrollable factors | Breast Cancer Specialist in Bangalore
  • Exposure to estrogen. Estrogen exposure for a longer period, without any break, facilitates the risk of breast cancer. Due to this reason, if your menstrual cycle starts earlier than normal age, like at 12 or lasts for late ager, after 55, you might have greater degrees of breast cancer risk. 
  • Pregnancy and breastfeeding. Women having no history of full-term pregnancy or pregnancy after 30 are more prone to the breast cancer risk. Breastfeeding also plays a vital role in this regard. Women, who stopped breastfeeding before the 1.5 year or 2 years age of their baby bear the greater risk of breast cancer than the women, those could continue the breastfeeding up to this certain age.  
  • DES exposure. From the year 1940 to 1971, diethylstilbestrol (DES) was randomly used to prevent miscarriages. Women, who consumed these medicines, are now bear a very high risk of breast cancer. 
  • Combined post-menopausal hormone therapy (PHT). I found women are now becoming more interested in PHT to get rid of the irritating symptoms they face after menopause. As the biggest side-effect of this therapy, you become more exposed to breast cancer risk. Besides, you might be diagnosed with breast cancer at a more advanced stage due to this therapy.
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Podcast

Coping with cancer – Day to day life

Best Cancer Doctors in Bangalore | Dr. Murali Subramanian

This is Dr. Murali Subramanian, a medical oncologist, practicing in Bengaluru. Welcome back to my podcast channel “ cancer care” 

Dealing with cancer is obviously a life-changing event for most people fighting cancer. Stories of brave heart cancer-fighters are worth reading and listening to as it can be a time to reduce regrets and make new priorities. Their lives are a true inspiration for many as they learn to live each day as normally as they can. It is all about enjoying the simple things you like to do.

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Common cancer in Indian women

Cancer Specialist in Bangalore | Dr. Murali Subramanian

In this Podcast, we will try to highlight about common cancer in Indian women.

Listen to the podcast audio down below to know more about “Common cancer in Indian Women” by Dr. Murali Subramanian, Best Medical Oncologist in Bangalore.

Also check out other podcasts:

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Common types of cancer in Indian women

Best Cancer Specialist in Bangalore | Dr. Murali Subramanian

A lot of women in India have approached me to give information regarding cancers that are most common in Indian women particularly. I hope after reading to this blogs more women will be aware of the symptoms of these types of cancer and take steps to prevent it.

There are 5 most common types of cancer in Indian women . But these life-threatening cancers can be prevented if detected and treated at an early stage. It is important to go for annual cancer screenings. This would help reduce the mortality rate and also improve the quality of life of the patient after cancer treatment.

Cancer in Women | Best Cancer Specialist in Bangalore | Dr. Murali Subramanian
Cancer in Women | Best Cancer Specialist in Bangalore | Dr. Murali Subramanian

The 5 most common cancers affecting India women to be aware of:

1. Breast Cancer

It is the most common cancer affecting women in India. It accounts for more than 25% of all cancers. 1 in 26 Indian women could develop breast cancer. In the rural areas, the number is on a lower side but in the cities it is about 1 in 20 women. Women of any age can develop this cancer.

Symptoms:

  1. Inward turned nipples
  2. Lump in one or both the armpits or breasts
  3. Soreness & discharge in the nipples
  4. Discharge from nipples
  5. Change in the shape and size of the nipples or breasts

Preventions:

  1. A woman with a family medical history of breast cancer needs to be more cautious .Remember that it is easier to treat breast cancer if diagnosed at an early stage. It is important for women over the age of 40 years to go for mammograms.
  2. It is important to self-examine to feel the lumps or any other abnormalities in the breasts. Every woman must check for any variation in size or shape of the breasts. If you feel there is something abnormal, you must consult a doctor immediately. You must do self-examination once every month.

2. Cervical Cancer

It is the second most common cancer found in Indian women. Cervical cancer accounts for about 20% of all cancer cases in Indian women. In this case, rural women are at more risk of suffering from cervical cancer than urban women. This is more common in sexually active women. Cervical cancer is most commonly caused due to the presence of Human papillomavirus or HPV, which is a sexually transmitted infection. Other causes of cervical cancer include tobacco , AIDS, poor nutrition, genital infection,weak immune system, multiple sexual partners, long term use of contraceptive pills.

Symptoms:

Unfortunately, in its early stages, cervical cancer does not show any symptom. However, with the advancement of cancer, the following symptoms may occur:

  1. Vaginal discharge
  2. Pain during sex
  3. Abnormal vaginal bleeding during sex, after menopause or between periods

Prevention:

  1. Practice safe sex to lower the risk of infection and getting this cancer.
  2. Avoid smoking to prevent cervical cancer.
  3. Go for PAP tests and follow up with the doctor.
  4. It can also be prevented by getting vaccinated for certain HPV infections. It is advisable not to use birth control pills for a long time to prevent cancer of the cervix.
  5. Maintain healthy body weight and eat a healthy diet with more organic fruits and vegetables.

3. Oral and Lip Cancer

It is one of the most common cancers affecting Indian women. Women over the age of 50 years are more prone to oral cancer.

Symptoms:

  1. Small lump inside the oral cavity
  2. Erosion surrounding the gums and lip
  3. Loss of sensation inside the mouth
  4. Abnormal patches in the mouth or throat
  5. Bad breath and loosening of teeth
  6. Problems in speech
  7. Severe and unexpected weight loss
  8. Painful sores

Prevention:

1.Maintain proper oral hygiene and visit a dentist regularly. Also you can conduct a self-examination of the mouth.

2. Avoid smoking or chewing tobacco and eat cancer-fighting foods.

Ovarian Cancer | Best Cancer Specialist in Bangalore | Dr. Murali Subramanian
Ovarian Cancer | Best Cancer Specialist in Bangalore | Dr. Murali Subramanian

4. Ovarian Cancer

Ovarian cancer mostly affects women when they are above 50 years. Ovarian cancer usually affects those women who never had children or those who had children after 30 years of age. Moreover, women with a family history of breast cancer, ovarian cancer, are more prone to this cancer.

Symptoms:

  1. Pelvic pain
  2. Digestive problems & abdominal swelling
  3. A sense to urinate all the time

Prevention:

Regular health examinations and relevant tests can help.

5. Colorectal or Colon Cancer

Women with a family history of colon cancer or suffering from inflammatory bowel disease are more at risk of developing colon cancer. Other causes are obesity high-fat foods, being inactive, and smoking. Women between the age group of 40 and 45 years are mostly affected.

Symptoms:

  1. Fatigue
  2. Abnormal weight loss
  3. Abdominal  cramping
  4. Blood in the stool
  5. Rectal bleeding
  6. Change in bowel movements like constipation, diarrhoea

Prevention:

  1. Make healthy lifestyle changes and start eating healthy foods that include vegetables, fruits, and whole grains.
  2. Also, you can start taking Vitamin D and calcium supplements after consultation with your doctor.
  3. Maintain a healthy weight, limit alcohol consumption and no smoking could reduce the risk of colon cancer.
  4. Limit the intake of red meat and exercise in order to prevent colon cancer.

Conclusion

Data shows that cancer is increasing in Indian women .Going for cancer screening once a year after the age of 35 is highly recommended to detect and getting treatment for this disease at an early stage.

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Why Indian women are more prone to Breast cancer

Breast Cancer Treatment in Bangalore | Dr. Murali Subramanian

Breast Cancer Treatment in Bangalore | Women with Breast Cancer
Breast Cancer Treatment in Bangalore | Women with Breast Cancer

On a lovely Saturday afternoon, while celebrating my daughter’s fifth birthday, I noticed a lump in my left breast. From the first moment, I was told that I had cancer, not even once, did I ask myself – “why me?”. I worked as a lawyer in a big law firm, and I cared about my status and the money. I considered myself a superwoman, an independent woman who could do everything by herself. I had managed to build a successful career, a happy married life,  have a great child, and keep the house organized and clean.

This is the story of one of my patients ( names withheld for privacy reasons).

After she was diagnosed with breast cancer, and subsequently treated for it, she tried her best to look forward positively. She participated in meditation workshops, met friends, and was now able to ask for help and speak about the things that mattered.

Today, she states that even though initially, she felt like the rug had been pulled out from under her feet, now, when she looks back at her journey, it has been a silver lining in her life.

For the past five years, she has been cancer-free. After hearing about my podcast sessions, she recently reached out to me, suggesting I address the issue of breast cancer in Indian women, so that more women are tested. The lack of awareness has led to a high mortality rate of women in India.

One cannot prevent breast cancer but can increase the survival rates by being aware, informed, and choosing to get diagnosed at the right time. Patients diagnosed with breast cancer need planned and personalized therapy.

Women are prone to Breast Cancer | Breast Cancer Treatment in Bangalore
Women are prone to Breast Cancer | Breast Cancer Treatment in Bangalore

Let me give you some alarming facts about breast cancer in India. I hope that through this, more and more women in India will get themselves screened early.

• Do you know that it is the most common cancer in Indian women?

• Breast cancer accounts for around 32% of female cancers in all cities across India.

• In India, every 4 minutes, one woman is diagnosed with breast cancer.

• Every 12 minutes, there is a woman in India who dies of breast cancer.

• Alarmed? An estimated 70,000 women died of breast cancer in India in 2014, the highest in the world for that year.

• The high mortality rate in India is due to the lack of awareness and delay in screening and diagnosis.

• More than 60% of breast cancer patients in India are suffering from stage 3 and 4, where the chances of survival are meager.

• There are is an increasing number of cases of breast cancer in the age group of 30 to 50 is increasing at an alarming rate.

One fantastic fact I would tell you all today is that breastfeeding often interrupts periods, leading to fewer menstrual cycles and less estrogen exposure. This leads to about a four percent reduction in the risk of breast cancer for every one year of breastfeeding.

Women with breast cancer are at an increased risk of osteoporosis. The hormone, estrogen has a protective effect on bones, and reduced estrogen levels can trigger bone loss.

As with other types of cancers, the survival rate is high if diagnosed early. Here are a few things that all of us need to do

• Be aware and informed about breast cancer diagnosis, symptoms, breast cancer tests, and treatment.

• Be informed about self-tests. Regularly examine your breasts on your own.

• Visit an oncologist if you feel any changes or abnormalities in your breasts.

• Early detection is a real blessing for breast cancer fighters. If detected early, breast cancer can be treated, and you have the chance to defeat cancer and live a healthy life

• Patients diagnosed with breast cancer in Stage 1 and 2 breast cancer can take a recurrence prediction test to determine their recurrence risk score.

• Depending on the recurrence risk score, the oncologist can come up with an effective plan for personalized treatment.

Indian breast cancer patients are younger, with an average age of 46 years. Nearly 50% are diagnosed in the premenopausal age. It has been found that waist size are the major risk factor for breast cancer. We also recommend women get adequate exercise and a healthy diet as the most beneficial lifestyle changes that can reduce the risk of developing breast cancer. In the sincere hope that more and more women in India get aware of breast cancer symptoms and diagnosis and get help as soon as possible.

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Emotional Aspect of women on Breast cancer

Getting Diagnosed with breast cancer can be an extremely devastating experience. Your biggest worry might be dealing with a nasty co-worker or relative zone moment and the next moment you find out you have got a life-threatening illness. Women who have breast cancer experience a huge increase in anxiety levels, depression, and fear.

A warm welcome to my blog page, dedicated to cancer fighters and survivors. This is Dr. Murali Subramanian, a medical oncologist in Bangalore provides the Best Breast cancer Treatment in Bangalore.

By now, we all are aware that treatment can also bring about changes in the way your body looks and feels. One of my patient who is a breast cancer survivor has sent me this specific request to address the psychological aspect of breast cancer fighters, as according to her that will benefit lot of women out there.

I will start off with sharing a small story about her. She (Name not reviled) is a 45-year old divorced mom of two school going children. She had been having regular screening and during an exam an area of tissue didn’t look right. She underwent a surgical biopsy and it turned out to be nothing. Yet we wanted to keep a close eye on her and continued her screenings. During one of her routine screenings 12 months later, two lumps turned up. On subsequent testing, it was revealed that she had stage 1 invasive carcinoma.

Breast Cancer Treatment in Bangalore | Dr. Murali Subramanian
Breast Cancer Treatment in Bangalore | Dr. Murali Subramanian

In hercase, and for many other women who have to go from a routine mammogram to cancer fighters practically overnight, the amount of information to process and the life-changing decisions you’ll need to make, such as picking your surgeon to deciding whether to have a lumpectomy or mastectomy , can get overwhelming. This is an emotionally difficult time and that is precisely the reason, I am dedicating this session to help women deal with this phase of emotional trauma.

My team tries to help patients prepare for what’s ahead by providing them with relevant and helpful information about the most common things they could experience.

Information is a powerful tool to fight  fear and anxiety. We encourage open communication between patient and caregivers throughout the treatment. The patients must communicate everything they are going through physically and psychologically so that the care team may be able to alter their approach .Over the years, we ask patients to speak up about any side effects they are experiencing without hesitation as that will help the entire team tweak the treatment process.

The particular patient whose case I am referring to decided to hold lengthy discussion with the healthcare team and that proved to be a blessing to her throughout the treatment.

She tells me that in addition to adjusting to her new body, she is also still fearful that her cancer could return. This is a common fear of breast cancer survivors. Every littlepain, you think, ‘is it my cancer coming back?’. I am sharing these experiences, so that women out there who are going through this should not feel that they are alone. These are common emotional reactions, and it is fine to go through them. I will share some practical ways to cope with these anxieties.

Some breast cancer survivors find that exercise can help them cope with this anxiety and this is supported by research. Research proves that exercise helps reduce depression and anxiety.

 Exercising regularly also improves fatigue symptoms, reduces stress and impacts long-term overall health. The survival rate is higher in patients who exercise regularly than in patients who do not. We recommend that you engage in moderate exercise.

Also, talking with a therapist, a family member or other breast cancer patients or survivors can also help fight stress and depression.

A family and friends support network can be very helpful in coping with a breast cancer diagnosis.

It is a known fact that Cancer is not fought only by the patient. The whole family is affected. We as a community must support the family and the people who support the patient. This will go a long way at helping the patient throughout the whole process.

There are lots of evidence that increased support reduces overall stress, and that puts patients in a position to respond better to treatment. Remember that if you are hesitant to reach out to a therapist or support groups, confide in your doctor, friend, or family member. Information, exercise, and support system are some ways you can help yourself cope this phase. Do write to me and let me know if you want to add something that might have helped you or your loved one.

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Podcast

Breast Cancer & it’s Treatment-Dr Murali Subramanian

Hi everyone, welcome to my podcast channel “Oncology Podcast” . I’m your host Dr.Murali Subramanian, Medical Oncologist in Bangalore. In today’s podcast, we are going to discuss a very important topic “Let’s talk about Breast Cancer and it’s treatment” in General.

We’re getting better at opening up and started talking about difficult subjects, but many of us still hesitate to talk about them, or avoid them eventually altogether because we think they don’t affect us, especially when it comes to cancer. 

According to top oncologists, breast cancer is the most common cancer in women. Early diagnosis will help keep the disease under control. Around 30% of breast cancer cases are aggressive with rapidly growing tumors.

Listen to the podcast audio down below to know more about Breast Cancer and it’s Treatment by Dr. Murali Subramanian, Breast Cancer Doctor in Bangalore