Metastatic Breast Cancer Trends in India: A Closer Look

In a comprehensive study featured in The Lancet Regional Health Southeast Asia, researchers revealed that nearly 13% of more than 76,000 Indian women diagnosed with breast cancer between 2009 and 2020 experienced metastasis. The cancer predominantly spread to bones, the most common metastatic site.

Data collected by India's National Cancer Registry Programme indicates a higher metastasis risk for diagnoses during 2015-2020, compared to those from 2009-2014. Experts from the ICMR-National Institute of NCD Epidemiology in Bengaluru noted the strong association between metastatic breast cancer and tumour burden, though national-level evidence remains limited.

Discrepancies in healthcare, including access to diagnostic services and timeliness of care, were noted. The study urges the expansion of community-based screenings and improved referral pathways to specialized cancer centers, aiming for earlier detection and reduced metastatic breast cancer burden across India.