Session on personalised cancer treatment in Bengaluru on October 24

Bengaluru-based Shobha Trust, in collaboration with Samprada Hospital, will organise a day-long session on ‘Individualised Drug Therapy in Cancer’ at Vivanta on Residency Road in Bengaluru, on October 24. The session will focus on the growing role of personalised approaches in cancer treatment.

Oncologists will participate in discussions on developments in cancer care and the importance of tailoring treatment to individual patients.

“As cancer treatment continues to evolve, understanding how therapies can be tailored to individual patients is becoming increasingly important,” said Dr. Radheshyam Naik, founder, medical director and head of Medical Oncology, Haematology and Bone Marrow Transplantation at Samprada Hospital.

Breast cancer among younger women

Highlighting the importance of breast cancer awareness during October, Dr. Naik said the disease is a significant concern among younger women in India, contrary to the common perception that it primarily affects older women.

Citing estimates from the National Cancer Registry Programme, he said breast cancer accounted for over 27% of all cancer cases among women aged 15–39 in 2022.

He stressed the need to dispel the misconception that younger women were largely protected from the disease. Ignoring a breast lump or other unusual changes because of age could delay diagnosis and treatment, he said.

Warning signs include a new or persistent lump, changes in breast shape or size, skin dimpling, nipple inversion, and unusual nipple discharge.

“Age alone should never be a reason to dismiss a possible symptom. While not every breast change indicates cancer, it is important to consult a doctor to establish the cause rather than ignore it,” Dr. Naik said.

Younger women might overlook symptoms because they consider themselves less vulnerable, attribute changes to hormonal fluctuations, or postpone consultations owing to work and family commitments, he said.

Dr. Naik emphasised the importance of breast awareness and timely medical evaluation. Women should familiarise themselves with what is normal for their breasts and seek medical advice if they notice unusual changes. However, breast awareness does not replace appropriate screening or diagnostic tests, he said. The choice of investigation depends on a woman’s age, symptoms, medical history, and risk factors.

He cautioned that the absence of a family history of breast cancer did not eliminate the risk. Although inherited genetic factors can increase susceptibility, the disease can also affect women without a known family history.

Emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), could support breast cancer detection by helping radiologists identify suspicious abnormalities in mammograms, improve consistency in image interpretation, and prioritise cases requiring closer examination. Such tools could complement conventional diagnostic procedures and improve screening efficiency, he said.