NEW DELHI: The breast cancer survival rate has steadily improved in India over the years, yet only about two of three women diagnosed with the disease survive for at least five years, according to World Health Organization‘s first country-wise survival estimates, underscoring the need for earlier diagnosis and timely treatment.India’s estimated five-year breast cancer survival rate for women diagnosed during 2017-2021 stands at 65.7%, compared with a global median of 77.8%, according to the WHO estimates published in ‘Nature Medicine’. Survival reaches 87.3% in high-income countries, 88.5% in the WHO region of the Americas and 84% in the European region.The study is the first to estimate five-year breast cancer survival for all 194 WHO member states, providing countries with a baseline to measure progress under WHO Global Breast Cancer Initiative, which aims to reduce premature breast cancer mortality by 2.5% every year and save 2.5 million lives by 2040.Earlier, Indian research had also shown improving breast cancer survival. A 2024 National Cancer Registry Programme study reported that five-year survival had increased from 31-54% among women diagnosed in the 1990s to 66.4% for those diagnosed during 2012-2015, although researchers noted that India continues to have scope for improvement through earlier diagnosis and better access to quality cancer care.“India’s estimated five-year breast cancer survival rate of 65.7% reflects gaps across the cancer care continuum, not just treatment. Survival has improved with community-based screening and Ayushman Bharat-PMJAY, but many women still present with advanced disease due to low awareness, stigma, financial barriers, and delays in diagnosis. Disparities in access to pathology, imaging, radiotherapy, systemic therapy and follow-up care, especially between urban and rural areas, continue to affect outcomes. Strengthening early detection, timely diagnosis and equitable access to quality treatment is essential to improve survival,” said Abhishek Shankar, assistant professor of radiation oncology at AIIMS.The WHO report found wide disparities in survival across regions and income groups, reflecting differences in early detection, timely diagnosis and access to treatment. Median five-year survival was 87.3% in high-income countries, compared with 78.7% in upper-middle-income, 60.1% in lower-middle-income and 41.9% in low-income countries.Breast cancer is now the most common cancer among women in 158 countries and caused an estimated 6.9 lakh deaths globally in 2024, with nearly 70% occurring in low- and middle-income countries. WHO said survival depends largely on early diagnosis and timely access to surgery, radiotherapy and cancer medicines, with the stage at diagnosis remaining one of the strongest predictors of survival.The estimates were derived using survival data from cancer registries in 67 countries and statistical modelling for countries lacking complete registry data, incorporating factors such as stage at diagnosis, access to cancer medicines, radiotherapy and mammography capacity, and overall adult mortality.
