ICMR Study Shows Exercise as Key Shield Against Breast Cancer

Context:
A recent study by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) highlights the significant role of physical activity and lifestyle factors in influencing breast cancer risk among Indian women. The findings have important implications for preventive healthcare, women’s health policy, and early detection strategies, especially as breast cancer incidence continues to rise in India.

Key Highlights:

Study Findings & Risk Factors:

• Higher levels of physical activity are associated with a lower risk of breast cancer.

• Women above 50 years have nearly three times higher odds of developing breast cancer compared to those below 35 years.

• Central obesity, family history, reproductive timing, and hormonal exposure significantly influence risk.

• Women with more than two induced abortions showed a higher breast cancer risk.

• Breastfeeding duration and oral contraceptive use showed no significant association with breast cancer risk.

Disease Burden in India:

• Breast cancer constitutes about 22.8% of all cancers among Indian women.

• Incidence is projected to grow by 5.6% annually, adding approximately 0.05 million new cases every year.

• Rising burden reflects changing lifestyles, urbanisation, and delayed detection.

Survival & Stage-wise Outcomes:

• Five-year survival rates vary sharply by stage of diagnosis:

  • 81% – Localised cancer

  • 65.5% – Regional spread

  • 18.3% – Distant metastasis

• Highlights the importance of early detection and screening.

Lifestyle & Behavioural Contributors:

• Poor sleep quality, irregular sleep patterns, sleeping in lighted rooms, and chronic stress increase risk.

• Sedentary lifestyles and abdominal fat accumulation amplify hormonal and metabolic vulnerabilities.

Public Health Implications:

• Need for large population-based cohort studies tailored to Indian conditions.

• Emphasis on preventive care, lifestyle modification, and reproductive health counselling.

Relevant Prelims Points:

• Issue: Rising incidence of breast cancer among Indian women.

• Causes:

  • Physical inactivity

  • Central obesity

  • Hormonal and reproductive factors

  • Family history

• Key Institution:

  • ICMR – Apex body for biomedical research in India

• Impact:

  • High disease burden and mortality when detected late

Relevant Mains Points:

• Facts & Definitions:

  • Central Obesity: Excess abdominal fat increasing metabolic and cancer risk.

  • Metastasis: Spread of cancer from primary site to distant organs.

  • Cohort Study: Longitudinal study tracking health outcomes in a defined group.

• Keywords & Conceptual Clarity:

  • Preventive Healthcare, Lifestyle Diseases, Women’s Health, Early Detection

• Governance & Health Policy Angle:

  • Integrating lifestyle counselling into primary healthcare

  • Strengthening screening and awareness programmes

• Way Forward:

  • Promote regular physical activity among women

  • Address central obesity through nutrition and exercise

  • Improve early screening and diagnostic access

  • Expand India-specific epidemiological research

UPSC Relevance (GS-wise):

• GS 2: Social justice, public health, women’s welfare

• GS 3: Science & technology, health research

• Prelims: Cancer risk factors, public health data