Every minute, four women around the world are diagnosed with breast cancer, and every minute, one woman dies from the disease. India is among the worst affected countries, and in states like Nagaland, low awareness and limited access to screening continue to place women at greater risk.

Breast cancer, when detected early, is almost always curable, as early diagnosis enables timely intervention before the disease spreads, making treatment more effective and less intensive. In resource crunch countries like India, the self-breast examination is an important tool to pick up breast cancers at an earlier stage.

However, in Nagaland, limited awareness of risk factors, early symptoms, and the importance of timely detection means few women opt for regular screening or seek medical advice. Fear, social stigma, and misinformation often delay care, sometimes until the cancer has progressed to an advanced stage.

To address this gap, Medanta – The Medicity in Gurugram has launched an educational video as part of its Jaanta Hai Medanta initiative, encouraging women to take charge of their breast health. The video demonstrates a simple three-minute self-examination, involving three basic steps, to be done once a month — ideally two to three days after the menstrual cycle ends.

The link to the video is here: https://youtu.be/Tnvm_DERUvg?si=O4Ua-5UVD9YJf5l9

Download Nagaland Tribune app on Google Play

About 80% of breast lumps may be non-cancerous. Conditions such as cysts, infections or benign tumours are common and can usually be treated easily if detected early. However, unless proper tests are done under guidance of a specialist, there is a chance of missing the cancerous lumps. Fear of a cancer diagnosis often prevents women from getting even simple checks done.

For women in Nagaland, where access to regular screening facilities can be limited, breast self-examination is a powerful first line of defence. Awareness, timely action and simple self-checks can save lives – and help replace fear with confidence and control.

Dr. Kanchan Kaur, Senior Director, Breast Cancer

Medanta – The Medicity, Gurgaon