World Cancer Day: New DNA test can diagnose breast cancer risk, says study

This World Cancer Day, a day when we honour and celebrate cancer survivors, brought in good news for breast cancer risk diagnosis. A new study has found that a unique DNA analysis of breast tissue can diagnose breast cancer in women.

The research was funded by funded by The Eve Appeal and the European Union's Seventh Framework Programme and was conducted by the Department of Women's Cancer at UCL and led by Professors Martin Widschwendter and Andrew Teschendorff.

The researchers observed that DNA changes are already present in healthy women’s tissue. Their primary aim of the study was to understand better diagnosis and prevention of breast cancer.

Cancer in India

With substantial increase in the numbers of breast cancer cases in India, has made it the top killer in India. In a study published in the journal JAMA Oncology titled The Global Burden of Cancer 2013,’ it was observed that liver cancer increased by over 88 percent in the past 23 years, while oesophageal cancer increased by over 64 percent.

In statistics published by The Times of India, state that in 2013, 40,985 women died due to cervical cancer while 47,587 died due to breast cancer, cases of which jumped by 166 per cent.

Read: 12 common cancer myths debunked

World Cancer Day 2016

Given the increase in numbers, not only in India but worldwide, World Cancer Day this year is taking place under the tagline ‘We can. I can.’ It will explore how everyone – as a collective or as individuals – can do their part to reduce the global burden of cancer.

In order to encourage people to participate in the effort of spreading awareness, the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) has released a video:

In addition to UICC, the World Health Organisation also decided to spread awareness through their innovative Twitter post.

#WorldCancerDay: Over 30% of #cancer deaths could be prevented by tackling key risk factors https://t.co/RbaMxRwrS1 pic.twitter.com/HaMd0K5Fgs

— WHO (@WHO) February 4, 2016

Also read: Fibre-rich diet in teenage could prevent breast cancer risk later 

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