Breast cancer now affecting women as young as 24:Experts warn at IMSCON-26 in Bhopal; doctors suggest vaccination, early detection

The figures revealed at IMSCON-26, the national conference of the Indian Menopause Society held in Bhopal, have raised serious concern among doctors. Experts said breast cancer is no longer limited to women aged 40-50 years. Now, even young women as young as 24 are being diagnosed with the disease. Doctors also warned that while at least 90% of women should undergo regular screening, less than 3% in India are actually getting tested. They said that without timely screening and vaccination, cancer cases and deaths could increase sharply in the coming years. The conference was inaugurated in the presence of Indian Menopause Society National President Dr Anita Shah, Dr Sudha Sharma, Dr Shashi Srivastava, Dr Vaijayanti, Dr Manisha Khare, and Dr Shraddha Agarwal. It was also announced that Agra-based gynaecologist Dr Aarti Gupta will be the next National President of the Indian Menopause Society. Lifestyle changes major reason behind rising cases Surgical oncologist Dr Anjana Chauhan from Ahmedabad said breast cancer cases among young women have increased rapidly in recent years. She explained that unhealthy lifestyle is a major cause. Junk food, obesity, lack of exercise, staying awake late, stress, and hormonal imbalance are increasing the risk. Earlier, breast cancer was mostly seen after the age of 45. Now, cases are being reported in women aged between 20 and 30. Doctors said cancer is more aggressive at a younger age, making early detection extremely important. 90% screening necessary, but numbers are scary Dr. Chauhan clearly stated that if we want to reduce deaths from breast and cervical cancer, regular screening of at least 90 percent of women is necessary. But the reality is that less than 3 percent of women in the country get screened. While there is a lack of awareness in villages, even in cities women postpone checkups due to shame, fear, or negligence. Sometimes families also don’t take it seriously. Doctors say that cancer detected in early stages can be completely cured, but when delayed, treatment becomes difficult and expensive. Experts also expressed concern about cervical cancer. Dr. Chauhan explained that this cancer is caused by HPV (Human Papillomavirus) infection. This virus can remain in the body without symptoms for many years and later develops into cancer. He said that the HPV vaccination campaign starting from February 28 is a major initiative. If girls aged 14 get vaccinated on time, cervical cancer cases can be significantly reduced in the future. Currently, the vaccination percentage is quite low, but this new initiative brings hope for improvement. First Live Telecast: Doctor performed robotic surgery from OPD During the surgical workshop held at HER Hospital, gynecologist Dr. Priya Bhave Chittawar performed telerobotic surgery from her OPD. Dr. Priya sat in her OPD on a meditation chair and connected to the robotic system wearing VR goggles. On the other side, the patient was in the operation theater. Robotic technology eliminated the distance between them. Every movement of the doctor’s hands was reaching directly to the patient through the robot. During this approximately one-hour surgery, the uterus was successfully removed. During this time, visiting experts watched the live procedure and understood the intricacies of the new technology. Double Risk After Menopause Senior gynecologist Dr. Aarti Gupta, who came from Agra, spoke in detail about women’s health after menopause. She explained that after menopause, women’s bones begin to weaken rapidly. The risk of osteoporosis in women is almost double compared to men. She explained that during menopause, estrogen hormone decreases in the body. This hormone helps keep bones strong. When it decreases, bone density falls rapidly and the risk of fracture increases at the age of 60-70.
Bone health depends on childhood nutrition and activity Dr Gupta said strong bones develop during childhood, a stage known as peak bone mass. Lack of physical activity, poor nutrition, and low vitamin D in childhood increase future health risks. She advised children to play for at least one hour daily and spend at least 30 minutes in sunlight. Excessive indoor lifestyle and mobile phone use are increasing vitamin D deficiency, especially in cities. Estrogen deficiency increases infection risk after menopause Doctors said reduced estrogen after menopause also affects reproductive organs. The vaginal lining becomes thinner, increasing the risk of infections and dryness. Many women consider this normal and do not seek treatment. However, experts stressed that medical care is necessary to prevent complications. Vitamin D and B12 deficiency rising among women Experts said vitamin D and vitamin B12 deficiency is becoming common, especially among women who spend less time in sunlight or follow strict vegetarian diets. This leads to weakness, fatigue, bone pain, and other health problems. Public forum to help women access screening and expert advice A public forum will be held on March 1, where people can directly ask questions to experts. Discounted coupons for mammography and cervical cancer screening will also be provided to encourage more women to undergo testing. Doctors said awareness, early screening, vaccination, and healthy lifestyle are the key steps to reducing cancer risk and protecting women’s health.