Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

Breast cancer and diet regime

Breast cancer has become the scourge of modern times in the country. Why is it that breast cancer incidence is on the rise in India while in Europe, it has almost stabilised?

Umberto Veronesi, the octogenarian doctor-researcher from Italy and the founding father of breast cancer surgery in the world, thinks that it is because of the reversal of traditions here.

"Indian diet has always been pure vegetarian, which has changed in recent times. Also families here had the tradition of marrying off girls early, so that their first offspring was produced when the girls were very young.

But today, girls marry late and often postpone their first pregnancy till they are well into their 30s," Dr. Veronesi says.

These two key changes in the diet and fertility pattern in India over the years has close links to the rising incidence of breast cancer, he feels.

C. Maya

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Cut in budget allocation for new railway lines in State
Decision on creamy layer panel soon
Criminal cases to be filed against encroachers
24 PSUs to earn profits this year
Government will uphold justice in education sector, says Chief Minister
Welfare fund Act to come into force from March 15
Passport Act: gang leader held
Rehabilitation of fisherfolk from March
Music becomes all-pervading
Hoteliers allege rights violation
BJP calls for rail bandh on March 5
Bridge to be repaired within two months
Breast cancer and diet regime
Union slams wage pact
Gangland murder: police raids on
Devout celebrities
Child artistes to be honoured
Around the City
In Thiruvananthapuram Today

Copyright © 2007, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu