MOHALI: With increasing incidence of breast cancer amongst a growing population of females on the rise, the disease is turning into a menacing malaise which though curable has still caused an ever growing concern amongst the target group as well as the medical practitioners treating it.

Breast cancer which has surpassed cancer cervix to be the most common cancer in urban areas of India with all ages and social groups affected rakes enormous anxiety today. The reason for the concern is not totally incomprehensible in the wake of factors such as chances of recurrence and concerns towards life after surviving breast cancer.

Experts, however, feel that breast cancer is not only curable but  women folk can lead a healthy and totally normal life once they overcome the practical challenge of living after cancer physically and mentally.

Locally active breast cancer is treated by using methods like surgery, chemotherapy and radiation which can permanently root out the cancer mass for ever. However, a renowned cancer surgeon at Grecian Hospital Mohali opines Dr Priti Jain, the chances of recurrence, if any, can be minimized by effective follow up with your doctor. This follow- up and diagnosis is crucial to avert the corning up of cancer again.

But the real challenge of surviving breast cancer for women lies in living with it, feels Jain. Increased stress levels and mental turmoil affects cancer patients more than the disease itself.

"It is not the number of years in life post cancer treatment but quality of life in those years which matter", remarks Dr Vinod Nimbran, Consultant Radiation Oncologist, Grecian Hospital, Mohali. Usually cancer diagnosis causes major concerns and invokes thoughts of living with a flat chest after breast is totally removed.

But with technological growth in medical field having grown manifold, it is practical to treat cancer without amputating breast in many cases. Even in cases in which breast has got to be removed, reconstruction using plastic and cosmetic surgery holds the key to a normal and healthy life afterwards, suggests Dr Nimbran.

Informing about the common perceptions rightly or wrongly placed, Dr Shivpreet Singh Samra, MD, Grecian Hospital opines that a growing sense of insecurity towards future with listless sexual life again causes concern amongst target group of sufferers.

But it needs to be clarified at this point of time that mental preparation and psychological bolstering is required. No doubt cancer treatment especially through radiation does cause hormonal changes and imbalances in women resulting in changed inclinations to sexual urges and related preferences.

This needs to explained and understood by both the subject and her spouse at the outset, adds Dr Samra. Expert medical advice on how to resuscitate one's sexual life with these hormonal imbalances helps at this stage, feels Dr Priti Jain.

Psychological and mental support by life partner is key to overcoming the subjective challenge of breast cancer which is increasingly dogged by concerns addressing the aesthetics, sex life and future hopes. Family and partners need to standby the patients who are simply as normal as others once the treatment or surgery gets over.