Hyderabad : As part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, CARE Hospitals, Hitech City, organised a Breast Cancer Awareness Talk, bringing together breast cancer survivors, patients, doctors and healthcare professionals to raise awareness about early detection, warning signs and advances in treatment. The programme also included a felicitation ceremony honouring breast cancer survivors, recognising their courage and resilience through their cancer journey.
The programme brought together specialists from the hospital’s oncology team, including Dr. A. Venugopal, Senior Consultant Medical Oncologist, Hemato-Oncologist & BMT Physician; Dr. Ramu Damuluri, Senior Consultant – Surgical Oncology, Breast & Women Cancer Surgeon; Dr. Kandra Prasanth Reddy, Senior Consultant – Radiation Oncologist; Dr. Praveen Adusumilli, Senior Consultant – Medical & Hemato Oncology; Dr. Ajay Chanakya Vallabhaneni, Senior Consultant – Surgical Oncologist & Robotic Surgeon; Dr. Rahul Reddy Levaka, Consultant – Surgical Oncologist; Dr. Sai Madhuri Chenna Reddy, Consultant – Radiation Oncologist; and Dr. Suneel Kumar Malipedda, Consultant – Nuclear Medicine, along with Dr. Pramod Gupta, Chief Operating Officer, CARE Hospitals, Hitech City.
Breast cancer does not always begin with a painful lump, and having no family history does not mean a woman is free from risk. Doctors cautioned that these common misconceptions often lead women to ignore early warning signs or postpone medical consultations. Detecting the disease at an early stage can significantly improve treatment options and outcomes, they pointed out.
Highlighting the importance of early diagnosis, Dr. Ramu Damuluri, Senior Consultant – Surgical Oncology, Breast & Women Cancer Surgeon, expressed concern over women delaying medical consultations due to fear or embarrassment. “Not every breast lump is cancer, but every unusual change needs medical attention. When breast cancer is detected early, treatment may be less extensive, and the chances of successful outcomes are generally better. Women should never ignore changes in their breasts,” he emphasised.
A lack of awareness about breast cancer symptoms remains a concern. Apart from a lump in the breast or underarm, changes in breast size or shape, skin dimpling, nipple inversion, spontaneous nipple discharge, particularly if bloody, and unusual thickening of breast tissue may require medical evaluation. Doctors stressed that women should not wait for pain or severe symptoms before seeking medical advice.
Dr. A. Venugopal, Senior Consultant Medical Oncologist, Hemato-Oncologist & BMT Physician, cautioned that breast cancer was not limited to older women and could also affect younger age groups. “Many women delay seeking medical advice because they have no pain or assume the changes are harmless. Advances in targeted therapies and immunotherapy have improved treatment options, but early detection remains one of the most important factors in achieving better outcomes,” he explained.
Advances in cancer care have expanded treatment options, including breast-conserving surgery, targeted therapy, immunotherapy and modern radiation techniques. Specialists noted that treatment is increasingly tailored to the characteristics of each patient’s cancer, with multidisciplinary teams playing an important role in treatment planning.
Explaining the role of radiation therapy, Dr. Kandra Prasanth Reddy, Senior Consultant – Radiation Oncologist, noted that misconceptions about side effects often created unnecessary fear among patients. “Modern radiation techniques allow us to target cancer more precisely while limiting exposure to healthy tissues. Radiation therapy plays an important role in breast cancer treatment for many patients, particularly after surgery. Fear of treatment should not lead to delays in care,” he observed.
Family history is another area where misconceptions persist. While inherited genetic changes can increase breast cancer risk, most women diagnosed with the disease do not have a strong family history. Doctors advised women to understand their individual risk factors and discuss appropriate screening with healthcare professionals.
Addressing these misconceptions, Dr. Praveen Adusumilli, Senior Consultant – Medical & Hemato Oncology, pointed out that breast cancer could develop without pain or a family history. “Many women believe they are not at risk because no one in their family has had breast cancer. That is not true. Women should be aware of unusual breast changes and discuss appropriate screening with their doctors. Early diagnosis gives us more treatment options,” he noted.
The felicitation of breast cancer survivors was a key part of the programme, drawing attention to the importance of emotional support, continued follow-up care and life after cancer treatment. The presence of survivors and patients also reinforced the need to address the fear and stigma that can prevent women from seeking timely medical attention.
Emphasising the need for continued awareness beyond October, Dr. Pramod Gupta, Chief Operating Officer, CARE Hospitals, Hitech City, highlighted the importance of encouraging women to speak openly about breast health. “Many women still hesitate to discuss breast health or postpone medical consultations. Through such programmes, we want to address misconceptions, encourage timely medical advice and recognise the strength of women who have faced breast cancer. Awareness and early action can make a meaningful difference,” he remarked.
Doctors advised women to follow age- and risk-appropriate screening recommendations, including mammography where indicated, and seek medical evaluation for any unusual breast changes, even in the absence of pain or a family history of cancer.
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