Author(s): Sanjay Kumar Sah
Breast cancer is the second most common cancer among Nepalese women and placed a substantial burden on the Nepalese healthcare system, but information regarding the number of women living with breast cancer is not well recorded. Breast Cancer Deaths in Nepal reached 1054 or 0.65% of total deaths according to data published by WHO in 2017. The age- adjusted death rate is 9.21 per 100,000 of population & placed 163rd ranks in the world. The high rate of death is observed in women despite having a reliable screening method like breast self-examination for early detection. A study revealed that breast cancer was the most prevalent cancer and a fourth leading cause of cancer-related mortality among women in Asia.
Breast cancer emerges as the most common organ cancer considering the first cause of death among women during 40- 45 years old. The incidence is increasing in the developing world due to increased life expectancy, urbanization and adaptation of western lifestyles and the only way to control this disease is early detection. The best way for early detection of breast cancer is screening and easily accessible by performing breast self- examination (BSE).
