Hospital review of 578 patients finds 82.5% of breast conditions were cancerous

A review of 578 patients who presented with breast-related concerns at the Head & Neck Cancer Institute of India (HNCII), Mumbai, over more than three years found that 82.5% had cancerous conditions and 17.5% had non-cancerous conditions.

The diagnoses were confirmed through tissue examination.

The findings reveal patients assessed at the institute and cannot be generalised to the wider population or used to estimate the likelihood that a breast lump is cancerous.

Patients diagnosed with breast cancer ranged in age from 23 to 98 years, with an average age of 52.7 years.

Tumour sizes varied, with 35.2% measuring up to 2 cm, 43.3% measuring between 2 and 4.9 cm, and 19.3% measuring more than 5 cm.

The institute also reported that 52% of patients had more than four lymph nodes positive for cancer.

Lymph node involvement is one of the factors doctors consider when assessing the extent of breast cancer and planning treatment.

Mastectomy, which involves removing the breast, was the most common surgery recorded.

Recognising unusual breast changes and seeking medical advice can help establish a diagnosis and guide appropriate care.

Not every lump requires cancer treatment, but changes should be assessed .

EOM