Breast Cancer Awareness Month: Over 32 cases registered daily in Gujarat
Updated: Oct 13th, 2025
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a time to create awareness, honour the millions of lives affected by breast cancer. In the last five years, Ahmedabad Civil Hospital has recorded a total of 6,686 cases of breast cancer. At present, on average, four new breast cancer patients are diagnosed every day.
Between 2019 and 2023, Gujarat registered 54,616 breast cancer cases, with 20,317 deaths. Across India, there are currently 32.58 lakh cancer patients, with 14.13 lakh new cases recorded annually.
Of these, cancers of the oral cavity, throat, breast, and cervix account for nearly 50% of all cancer cases. Among women in India, 27% of cancers are breast cancer. In 2022 alone, over 1,92,000 women in the country were diagnosed with breast cancer.
At the Gujarat Cancer and Research Institute (GCRI) in Ahmedabad Civil Medicity, 6,686 breast cancer cases were registered between 2020 and 2024.
Among the recorded patients, the highest proportion — around 32% — belonged to the 41-50 age group. Breast cancer is not limited to women; in the last three years, around 44 men have also been diagnosed with the disease at the Civil hospital.
Emphasising the importance of awareness in cancer cases, Dr Shashank Pandya, Director of Civil Cancer Hospital, said, “A menstruating woman should perform self-examination of the breasts during the 5th to 7th day after her period. Postmenopausal women should pick one fixed day every month for self-examination. If any lump or change in shape is noticed, a doctor must be consulted immediately.”
Age-wise breakdown of breast cancer patients
| Age group | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 18 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 18–30 | 48 | 35 | 44 |
| 31–40 | 242 | 227 | 183 |
| 41–50 | 477 | 427 | 463 |
| 51–60 | 369 | 371 | 388 |
| 61 and above | 315 | 288 | 363 |
| Total | 1451 | 1359 | 1462 |
Breast cancer cases reported in last five years
| Year | Women | Men | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 842 | 15 | 857 |
| 2021 | 1385 | 18 | 1403 |
| 2022 | 1451 | 15 | 1466 |
| 2023 | 1359 | 23 | 1382 |
| 2024 | 1462 | 16 | 1478 |
Signs of breast cancer
- Lump or swelling in the breast, chest, or armpit.
- Skin changes, such as dimpling (orange-peel appearance) or redness.
- Size or shape changes in one or both breasts/chest.
- Nipple discharge not related to pregnancy or breastfeeding, possibly with blood.
- Nipple changes, like inversion or rash (eczema-like).
- Sores or ulcers on the chest.
