 I am Dr. Shekhar Sarkar. I am an oncosurgeon and I am the Chief of the Department of Oncology in Manipal Hospital, Goa. Today I am going to speak to you on breast cancer which is one of the burning topics all over India. What is the cause of this breast cancer and why there is rise in it? One significant important factor in breast cancer is estrogen hormone. Because estrogen hormone is the hormone which gives the characteristics of a female. While testosterone hormone is the hormone which gives the characteristics of male. Now there is continuously uninterrupted estrogen acting on a lady is a significant cause. At least that is what theses are there. Suppose you start menses at around 10. Previously we used to have patients which used to come when they have started their menses at around 14. Today it is coming to around 10 or 9 also. 9 years old girl also starts with menses. Now if she does not get married and does not have child till the age of 30. That means there is continuous 20 years of estrogen bombarding on her body. Important is the good hormone is progesterone. Now progesterone comes into action only when there is a pregnancy. So if you have a estrogen acting and suddenly at the age of may be 25 26 there is a good pregnancy occurs. Then estrogen level goes down and a progesterone which is a good hormone which maintains the pregnancy come into action. Which is a protective hormone for you. But what is the problem in Goa? Goa our fertility rate is 1.7. That means around 25% of the couples will not have children irrespective of they wanted to have or not. So that is also already there are around 20% of ladies who are in the risk factors. Because not having children also is a risk factor. Because if you don't have children that means there is no pregnancy. There is no lactation which are the preventive factor for a mother. Also for the child lactation also helps child. But it is important that mother also is protected from breast cancer if you give a good amount of breastfeeding. Minimum of 6 months but good is around 2 years. But the problem is that now all ladies are working ladies. It is not practically possible for them to take a long leave. But so they normally tend to do give it for around 1-2 months and then they want to join and then they start on the outside food. So this is the one which is also important part is in breast cancer. So important is good feeding of the breastfeeding is important. Second thing is you must have a child before the age of 30. If you have a child which is after the age of 30 you are increasing your risk of getting breast cancer by around 30%. Second most important factor is now recently has come is obesity. The obesity also is a very significant factor. So you have to keep yourself lean, thin which helps yourself in further reducing the risk. And something more than that is as usual we all know that tobacco alcohol has to be avoided. Breast cancer is a one cancer if you are diagnosed in early stages like stage 1 and 2. Then you have got almost 80-90% of chance of total cure and you can have absolutely normal life. And even chemotherapy now is considered you know what is supposed to be the one which prevent the spread of the disease. We have come with some test which we show that you are in a good risk factor then you need not take the chemotherapy off. If you come early we can save your breast. Then no need to remove the full breast. Those older things of concepts of removing full breast is gone now. There is oncoplastic surgery. So even if you have partial breast even that much we can reconstruct you well. So we can give you absolutely normal breast look after the surgery. And better radiotherapy is available which will you know will not give a lot of side effects like blackening of the skin and other things. Good chemotherapy is available. Good hormone therapy is available. You must come in time actually 30 years back patient is to come minimum after around 6 months to 7 months 8 months. But nowadays they come at around 1 month or 2 months. So stage 1 and 2 is almost like a diabetes. You don't have to worry at all you have to live with the disease and you don't have to worry will have a normal life. If you come in stage 3 and 4 still there is a good chance in stage 3 it is almost 50% chance that you will be alright. And in stage 4 it is less it is almost like I would say around 20% or God has to be very kind to you. And the best 3 shots which you want to hear from me to prevent cancer. First one thing is stay away from vices alcohol smoke then have as much of vegetables as possible. And the third one is exercise and stay away from all tin food all this junk food and red meat.