http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/002200802141653.htm
High incidence of breast cancer in Goa worries medicos Panaji (PTI): Medicos in Goa have expressed the need to commission a study on high incidence of breast cancer in the state and work out a strategy to curb the disease. "Inspite of available data and information, no definite attempts are made to find out the root cause and take preventive steps," Dr Shekhar Salkar, General Secretary Indian Medical Association (Goa) told PTI. The coastal state, known for high literacy and per capita income has literally turned into the capital for breast cancer in the country, recording highest number of cases. "Goa has an average of 1000 cancer patients every year, and 70 cases per lakh population, which is much higher than the national average of 50 cases per lakh," official records said. Meanwhile, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) has said it is high time for the state government to commission a statewide pilot study to evaluate and ascertain the reasons behind this high incidence. "The study has to be conducted in respect with urbanisation, demographic segregation, religion, food habits, marital status and others," Salkar said. "We have been holding awareness camps in large numbers which has benefited the public at large and have been successful in bringing patients to the doctors in early stages," he added. The IMA feels that at this stage mere realisation and acknowledgement of the disease is of very little consequence. "We cannot leave breast cancer unattended, as has been the case with the rampant renal diseases in Canacona taluka," Salkar said.