Tripura Launches Month-Long Breast Cancer Awareness Drive

In India, an estimated 2,37,231 new cases and 96,100 deaths were recorded in 2024. Breast cancer now accounts for 30.4% of all cancers among Indian women.

In Tripura, according to the ICMR's Population-Based Cancer Registry for 2012–2016, breast cancer made up 14.4% of all female cancer cases, affecting about one in every 123 women.

Why It Matters: Late Detection Costs Lives

The numbers point to one key problem: many cases in India are found too late.

A rough comparison makes this clear. Globally, deaths were about 29% of new cases in 2022. In India, the 2024 figures put deaths at about 40% of new cases. While these figures come from different years and sources, the gap reflects what experts have long warned about: Indian women are often diagnosed at a later stage, when treatment is harder.

Screening rates explain much of this. One study based on national survey data found that only about 1% of women aged 30–49 had undergone clinical breast screening. Mammography is even rarer, at just 1.3% among women aged 45 and above.

Breast cancer also tends to appear earlier in Indian women. The median age at diagnosis in India is about 50 years, around a decade younger than in Western countries.

Screening Works, and It's Available

India's national programme recommends a clinical breast examination (CBE) for women aged 30–65 years every five years. This is a physical check done by trained health workers, and it does not require expensive machines.

It can save lives. Two large trials in India found that CBE by trained health workers helped detect cancers at earlier stages and reduced breast cancer deaths by 30% among women aged 50 and above.

Screening through CBE is offered at Ayushman Arogya Mandirs and other public health facilities, and women aged 30 and above are taught breast awareness and breast self-examination to help spot changes early.

What Tripura Is Doing

Tripura has also built its own screening calendar. Chief Minister Manik Saha launched the Mukhyamantri Niramay Arogya Abhiyan (MNAA) on December 31, 2025. Under it, dedicated screening drives are held twice a year, from January 1–14 and July 14–31, at Ayushman Arogya Mandirs and Primary Health Centres, focusing on cancer and other non-communicable diseases.

What the Month-Long Campaign Includes

• Workshops with AIIMS and Jhpiego at different levels
• Consultations involving doctors, health workers and ASHAs
• Seminars in medical and paramedical institutions
• Talk shows and social media campaigns
• Outreach through panchayat members
• Community activities by Community Health Officers and ANMs during Village Health and Nutrition Days

Dr Arjun Saha, State Programme Officer for Non-Communicable Diseases, presented the campaign roadmap. The Health Secretary urged all stakeholders and citizens to take part, stressing that collective effort is key to early detection.

What Women Can Do

• If you are 30 or older, ask for a clinical breast examination at your nearest Ayushman Arogya Mandir or health centre.
• Learn breast self-awareness, and see a doctor promptly if you notice any new lump or change.
• In Tripura, watch for the MNAA screening windows in January and July.

The Bottom Line

Breast cancer is common, but it is far more treatable when found early. Tripura's campaign targets the biggest gap in India's fight against the disease: getting more women checked before it is too late.

With inputs from IANS.