0
Dr Geeta Kadiaprath, a surgical oncologist at Apollo Athena Women’s Cancer Center in Delhi, said 60% of women seeking treatment for breast cancer in India are diagnosed in the late stages of the disease. Speaking at a Mission Namo Shakti session during NewsX’s We Women Want Conclave, Dr Kadiaprath pointed out that although the number of breast cancer cases has been rising over the years, they are being tackled through technologically advanced testing, coupled with improved treatment protocols. Dr. Kadiaprath highlighted the importance of awareness and timely testing, and added that private hospitals have begun to witness a decline in this trend, as nearly 70% of breast cancer patients in the hospital are diagnosed in the early stages of the disease, in sharp contrast to the national trend.
She said this has been achieved due to increased awareness and improved access to care among communities who can afford private medical treatment. The session highlighted the Namo Shakti initiative, launched by Rajya Sabha MP Kartikeya Sharma, which provides breast cancer screening using AI to remote and rural communities through mobile health units. The panel also included Namo Shakti technicians Darshana Rani, Anjali Devi and Balbir Kaur, who shared their experiences on the project. They said the response from local communities was encouraging. “As awareness increases, more and more women come to us for tests. When we go to villages, there is less awareness there. Women do not understand.
