THE GOAN NETWORK
PANAJI
Every woman above the age of 20 should learn and regularly practise breast self-examination (BSE) to ensure early detection, the most effective weapon against breast cancer, senior pathologist Dr R G Wiseman Pinto has said.
As the world observes breast cancer awareness month Dr Pinto called for a statewide campaign to educate women about BSE, describing it as a simple, low-cost and potentially life-saving practice that can help identify breast cancer at an early and highly treatable stage.
"Every woman above the age of 20 should learn and regularly practise breast self-examination," he said. "It is simple, inexpensive and can help detect cancer when it is still small and highly treatable."
Dr Pinto advised women to routinely examine their breasts and underarm areas for lumps, thickening, skin changes or nipple abnormalities. Any suspicious finding should be followed by prompt medical consultation and diagnostic tests, including imaging and biopsy where required.
While stressing that most breast lumps are benign, he warned against delaying medical evaluation.
"Nine out of ten lumps may not be cancer. But if the remaining one turns out to be malignant, early treatment can save the life," he said.
Breast cancer continues to be the most common cancer among women in Goa, accounting for an estimated 22 to 30 per cent of all cancers in women.
Dr Pinto said Goa has made significant strides in cancer awareness, diagnosis and treatment through the combined efforts of government agencies, healthcare institutions, NGOs and medical professionals.
However, changing lifestyles, population growth and emerging risk factors continue to drive the disease burden.
He advocated an intense awareness drive through schools, colleges, health centres, panchayats, municipalities, social media platforms and the mass media.
Special attention, he said, should be paid to women with a family history of breast cancer. Those with close relatives diagnosed at a young age should begin screening and self-examination earlier than the general population.
Dr Pinto also highlighted advances in breast cancer detection, including digital mammography, AI-assisted imaging and BRCA gene mutation testing. However, he noted that genetic testing facilities are still unavailable in Goa, requiring samples to be sent to laboratories outside the State.
He further called for strengthening Goa's cancer-care ecosystem through more specialists, improved diagnostic infrastructure, expanded palliative-care services and a stronger cancer registry to support research and policymaking.
A major concern, he said, is that many women continue to seek treatment only after the disease has advanced due to hesitation or lack of awareness.
"The woman is the pillar of the family. Educating every girl and woman about breast cancer is a collective responsibility," Dr Pinto added.
