Breast cancer rising in Nepal and Sri Lanka

Breast cancer is emerging as a critical health crisis for women in South Asia, with rising incidence and mortality rates reported in Nepal and Sri Lanka.

In Nepal, breast cancer has overtaken cervical cancer as the most common cancer among women. Annual diagnoses have risen to approximately 5,000 cases, up from an estimated 2,500 to 3,000 a decade ago. Medical professionals note that women aged 40 to 60 are most affected. While 10 to 12 percent of cases are hereditary, doctors attribute the increase to lifestyle factors such as obesity, tobacco use, sedentary habits, and environmental pollution.

In Sri Lanka, health authorities report that breast cancer claims the lives of approximately three women every day. High mortality rates are largely attributed to late-stage diagnoses, particularly in rural and semi-urban areas where access to screening is limited. Medical experts are calling for strengthened national screening programs, increased mammography access for women over 40, and improved public awareness to facilitate early detection and improve survival rates.