India : A breast lump is detected but not medically evaluated. A family history of cancer raises concerns that are difficult to voice. A screening appointment is postponed because the possibility of hearing bad news feels more frightening than living with uncertainty.
For many women, the emotional journey around breast cancer can begin long before a diagnosis. Yet, conversations often focus on detecting the disease, leaving less room to discuss the fears, assumptions and unanswered questions that can influence whether someone seeks medical advice in the first place.
This Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Dr Saptarshi Ghosh, Consultant Clinical Oncologist and Director of Hope & Heal Cancer Hospital and Research Center, Fulbari, Jalpaiguri district, is initiating a series of conversations aimed at making discussions around breast cancer more open, accessible and grounded in medical understanding. Beginning with breast cancer, the series will explore common concerns, which patients and families may hesitate to discuss. From recognizing symptoms, understanding investigations to navigating treatment and its impact on everyday life.
Dr. Ghosh holds an MD in Radiation Oncology, in which he was a gold medalist, and has pursued advanced clinical oncology and medical oncology training through qualifications and fellowships in the UK, Belgium and India. His credentials include FRCR in Clinical Oncology (UK), MRCP in Medical Oncology through the Specialty Certificate Examination, FUICC from St Luc Catholique University, Brussels, and fellowships at Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai. He is also a European Certified Medical Oncologist, a distinction awarded in 2016.
The initiative aims to address fear without minimizing the seriousness of cancer, helping people approach medical advice with greater clarity rather than uncertainty.
A possible breast abnormality can raise a series of questions: What if it is cancer? Will treatment involve surgery or chemotherapy? How might it affect work, family responsibilities, relationships and daily life? For some people, these concerns can become reasons to postpone a consultation.
However, a breast lump does not automatically mean cancer, and a diagnosis does not mean every patient will undergo the same treatment. Breast cancer care depends on factors such as the type and stage of the disease, the tumor’s biological characteristics and the patient’s individual circumstances.
A new lump or thickening, a change in breast size or shape, skin dimpling, nipple changes, unusual nipple discharge or a lump in the armpit should be assessed by a healthcare professional. Although such changes can have non-cancerous causes, they should not be dismissed or self-diagnosed.
Although the monthly self-breast palpation using the three finger technique is a common way to know one’s breasts, one has to understand that it does not replace the necessity of ultrasound & mammography of bilateral breasts. The Breast Imaging Society India recommends annual ultrasound & mammography of bilateral breasts for average risk women of age group 40 to 74 years old.
The conversation around cancer needs to acknowledge both the medical facts and the emotional concerns that accompany them. Clear, responsible information can help patients understand what warrants assessment, what the next steps may involve and which questions to raise with their treating team.
Awareness cannot end with recognizing a symptom. Patients and their families also need to understand what may happen after an abnormality is identified, including the role of clinical examination, imaging and biopsy where indicated, and how a diagnosis is established.
Treatment is individualized. Depending on the cancer’s characteristics and stage, it may involve surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy or a combination of approaches. Not every patient needs every treatment, and decisions are made in the context of the individual diagnosis and overall care plan.
Discussing these possibilities in an accessible way can help patients replace assumptions with informed questions. It can also help families offer more meaningful support, without making decisions based on hearsay or treating every cancer diagnosis as the same experience.
“People are often frightened not only of cancer itself, but also of what they believe a diagnosis will mean for their lives. Questions about treatment, family responsibilities, work and the future are real concerns and deserve to be addressed with sensitivity and accurate information. Seeking medical advice is not a reason to panic; it is a way to understand what is happening and make informed decisions,” said Dr Saptarshi Ghosh, Consultant Clinical Oncologist and Director, Hope & Heal Cancer Hospital and Research Center.
The conversation-led initiative will focus on questions people may hesitate to ask about cancer, encouraging them to seek reliable information, discuss concerns with healthcare professionals and support patients without stigma or assumptions. Breast cancer will be the starting point, with the broader aim of making conversations around cancer less intimidating and more informed.
The message is not that fear can be eliminated overnight. It is that fear should not become the reason someone ignores a change, delays a consultation or feels they must navigate a possible diagnosis alone.
Breast Cancer Awareness Month offers an opportunity to move beyond reminders that the disease exists and address what people need to know when cancer becomes a personal concern. Earlier conversations, appropriate medical assessment and compassionate support can help patients and families take the next step with greater understanding.
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