Published online Mar 24, 2022. doi: 10.5306/wjco.v13.i3.209
Peer-review started: April 9, 2021
First decision: June 7, 2021
Revised: June 17, 2021
Accepted: March 7, 2022
Article in press: March 7, 2022
Published online: March 24, 2022
Processing time: 349 Days and 6.4 Hours
Breast cancer is the commonest malignancy among women globally. From being fourth in the list of most common cancers in India during the 1990s, it has now become the first. In this review, we examine the available literature to understand the factors that contributed to the high burden of breast cancer in the country. We also provide the landscape of changes in the field of early diagnosis and the treatment modalities as well as the limitations of the Indian healthcare delivery systems (e.g., delayed diagnosis, human resources and funding for treatment). This review also sheds light on the newer interventions and the future of breast cancer management keeping in mind the coronavirus disease 2019 imposed limitations.
Core Tip: This review highlights the progress that has been made in the field of breast cancer management in India over the past few decades, in terms of addressing the various challenges of breast cancer control including diagnostic methods and treatment options. It also highlights the future of breast cancer control strategies with a focus on the coronavirus disease 2019 situation.