MANIPUR WOMEN FACE HIGHER RISK — BREAST CANCER NOW TOPS 15% OF CASES

Manipur is witnessing a worrying rise in breast cancer: it now accounts for about 15% of all cancer cases among women, according to Dr. Ajit Lukram, consultant surgeon at SHIJA Breast and Thyroid Clinic. Late detection — driven by lack of awareness, stigma, limited family support and affordability — remains the biggest challenge. SHIJA Clinic is running free breast screenings and concessional-treatment drives from Oct 13–30, 2025 as part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, urging women to get checked early because “early detection saves lives.”

• Breast cancer accounts for ~15% of cancers among women in Manipur, according to Dr. Ajit Lukram, consultant surgeon at SHIJA Breast and Thyroid Clinic.  

• Late detection is a major problem — many women present with advanced disease because of low awareness, social stigma, limited family support, and affordability issues.  

• SHIJA Clinic runs an annual awareness drive every October (Breast Cancer Awareness Month), offering free screenings and consultations for 15–20 days; those diagnosed during the campaign are eligible for treatment at concessional rates. The 2025 campaign runs Oct 13–30.  

• Over the last three years, about 300 breast cancer patients are treated annually in Manipur; high-risk age is 40–70, but cases can occur at any age.  

Numbers make shortsighted readers blink, but real life lurks inside them. Imagine a mother delaying a clinic visit because she fears social gossip. Picture a young woman who ignores a lump because she can’t afford a test. Picture a family who doesn’t know how to support a relative through chemotherapy. These are everyday scenes in many parts of Manipur, where geographic isolation, conservative social norms, and resource constraints conspire to make early diagnosis rare.

When Dr. Lukram speaks of stigma and family support, he’s not naming abstract forces — he’s describing emotional and economic barriers that stop women from even taking that first step: a clinical breast exam. That tiny delay can change outcomes dramatically.

So when SHIJA Clinic opens its doors with free screenings and concessional care, it’s not just medicine. It’s social permission — a public signal that getting checked is normal, accepted, and supported. 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS 

Q1: How common is breast cancer in Manipur right now?

According to Dr. Ajit Lukram of SHIJA Breast and Thyroid Clinic, breast cancer now accounts for around 15% of all cancers among women in Manipur — a recent and worrying uptick.  

Q2: Who is at highest risk for breast cancer?

The high-risk age group is generally 40–70 years, but cases can occur at any age — the clinic has even treated very young patients. Risk increases with factors like family history, hormonal factors, alcohol/tobacco use, and lifestyle changes.  

Q3: What are the early signs I should not ignore?

Look out for a new lump or thickening in the breast or underarm, changes in breast shape or size, nipple discharge (especially bloody), dimpling of the skin, or persistent pain. Any of these should prompt a clinical exam promptly. Early detection improves outcomes.  

Q4: Where can women get free or cheap screening in Manipur right now?

SHIJA Breast and Thyroid Clinic is running free screenings and consultations during its October campaign (Oct 13–30, 2025), with concessional treatment options for those diagnosed during the drive. Local health centers and NGOs may also run periodic camps.  

Q5: What practical steps can families take to support women for early detection?

Encourage regular self-checks, accompany women to clinics, remove stigma through open conversation, help with transport and finances for screenings, and press local health officials to set up regular camps in remote areas.