Understanding Breast Cancer Risks in India
A big new study from the ICMR-National Centre for Disease Informatics and Research shows that certain lifestyle factors are causing more breast cancer cases in India. These main factors are:
- Not sleeping enough or having bad sleep
- High stress levels
- Too much fat around the stomach (central obesity)
Experts believe breast cancer cases in India will go up by 5.6% each year, adding almost 50,000 new cases annually.
How the Study Was Done
Researchers looked at many Indian scientific papers published until December 2024. They screened nearly 1,900 studies and chose 31 good quality studies to find out what puts people in India at risk for breast cancer.
Key Risk Factors Identified
The study found several important risk factors:
- Poor Sleep:
- Bad quality sleep
- Irregular sleep patterns (not sleeping at the same time every day)
- Sleeping in rooms that are too bright
- High Stress: Lots of stress over time, often due to busy city life and changing work schedules.
- Central Obesity: Having a lot of fat around the waist. Women with a waist-to-hip ratio of 0.85 or higher face a much greater risk. This stomach fat is more harmful than just being overweight, especially for women after menopause.
On the positive side, the study consistently showed that regular physical activity was linked to a lower risk of breast cancer.
Expert Opinion on Lifestyle Changes
Dr. Samit Purohit, a cancer specialist, explained that breast cancer is no longer just about age or family history. He said:
"Bad sleep, long-term stress, and belly fat are quietly but strongly adding to the problem. They change our hormones, how our body fights sickness, and cause inflammation."
- Irregular sleep stops the body from making enough melatonin, a hormone that helps fight cancer.
- Long-term stress raises cortisol, a hormone that can cause health problems.
Other Important Risk Factors
The study also found strong links between breast cancer and reproductive and hormonal factors:
- Late Menopause: When a woman stops having periods after age 50.
- Delayed First Pregnancy: Having the first baby after age 30.
- Multiple Abortions.
- Higher Age at Marriage.
These factors mean a woman is exposed to hormones for a longer time during her life.
Family history of cancer, especially breast cancer, was found to be one of the strongest predictors of risk.
India's Unique Situation
Researchers noted that the risk factors for breast cancer in India are different from Western countries. In the West, things like hormone replacement therapy and starting periods at a very young age are bigger factors. In India, a mix of changing lifestyles, having children later in life, and metabolic issues are shaping the disease.
Next Steps: Prevention and Early Detection
The study highlights the need for:
- More large studies that follow many people over time.
- A stronger focus on preventing breast cancer.
- Better and earlier screening methods to find cancer quickly.
