India ranks third among the nations with the highest number of cancers. Breast cancer is the most common cancer affecting Indians. This is followed by oral cancer, lung cancer and cervical cancer. A 12 per cent rise in cancer cases in India by the next five years is expected, according to a report by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). The National Cancer Registry Program reports 13+ lakh people who have cancer annually in India.

The significant causes leading to the higher prevalence of cancer in Indian men and women are as follows:

Sedentary Lifestyles

A sedentary or inactive lifestyle. You have probably heard of all these phrases, and they mean the same thing: a lifestyle with a lot of sitting and lying down, with little to no exercise. People spend more time doing sedentary activities in the United States and worldwide. Sedentary lifestyles appear to be increasingly widespread in many nations despite being linked to various chronic health conditions.

Increase In Urban Pollution

There are a few ways that air pollution particles could damage DNA in cells and cause lung cancer. For instance, small particles may make up the lungs and change how cells reproduce. This could guide to DNA damage which can drive cancer

Rise In Obesity

The link between overweight/obesity and cancer threat is complex and changes with the type of cancer. Still, it applies to raised insulin and hormone levels and chronic inflammation. While some overweight/obesity-related cancers, such as breast, colorectal, and kidney, are common, others are relatively rare. For illustration, when you get a deep cut, the space around the cut becomes red and aching to touch. This minor inflammation around the wounded area helps repair the damaged tissue and aids healing. But long-term inflammation generated by extra visceral fat can harm your body and improve your risk for cancer. Cancer occurs when cells produce uncontrollably, harming the cells and causing infection. The more other cells divide and replicate, the more the risk that something will go immoral and a tumour will form.

Tobacco

Chemicals from cigarettes damage DNA. Cigarette chemicals finish it more challenging for cells to fix any DNA damage. They also harm the parts of DNA that save us from cancer. It’s the build-up of DNA harm in the exact cell over time that shows cancer

Alcohol Consumption

You know that alcohol increases the risk for several cancers, including oral, pharynx and larynx, colorectal and oesophagal, and liver and breast cancers. This recommendation says that when it comes to your cancer risk, the less you drink, the better.

India sees the highest female death rate due to breast cancer. Breast cancer occurs in a woman’s milk-producing ducts, generally known as mammary glands. The cells display abnormal growth in size and divide rapidly to form lumps. They may ultimately extend to lymph nodes or elsewhere. However, early diagnosis, surgery, medications, and radiation can successfully treat the disease.

Women with the following factors are at a higher risk of developing breast cancer.

  • History of having breast cancer or being active for BRCA gene mutation
  • Lack of physical activity
  • Obesity or excessive BMI levels
  • Hormonal therapy
  • High alcohol and tobacco consumption
  • Reproductive history

Here are some lesser-known preventative measures that can help significantly mitigate the risk of developing breast cancer. First, lactating mothers should breastfeed their children for one year or more. This is not just beneficial for the infant but helps mothers steer clear of the risk as well. Women above the age of 30 should refrain from taking birth control pills. This is because progesterone and estrogen, when naturally produced by a female, often act as active receptors or trigger breast cancer. Synthetically produced hormones only double the risk of carcinogenesis or tumour formation. Moreover, if the woman is an active smoker, it increases the risk of stroke, cardiovascular complications, and breast cancer.

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