The Hindu 07.04.2010
Breast cancer on rise in urban India
Special Correspondent
HYDERABAD: Ushalakshmi Breast Cancer Foundation, which has been working for the cause of improving breast health care in the city, will upload a short video on the World Health Organisation website about the activities undertaken by it.
World Health Day being observed on April 7 with the theme ‘1000 cities 1000 lives' will focus on urbanisation and health. Events would be organised worldwide calling on cities to open up streets for health activities. Stories of urban health advocators will be gathered to illustrate what people are doing to improve in their cities, says P. Raghu Ram, CEO, Ushalakshmi Breast Cancer Foundation, and Director, KIMS-Ushalakshmi Centre for Breast diseases.
According to the WHO, more than 50 per cent of world's population lives in cities and by 2050 seven out of 10 people will be living in cities. In India at present, 28 per cent of population lives in cities and the figure is expected to rise to 41 per cent by 2020.
Dr. Raghu Ram said urbanisation and consequent lifestyle effects like late marriages, late pregnancy, not breast-feeding the child, obesity, prolonged use of hormone replacement therapy were all contributing to increasing incidence of breast cancer.
