With 110.4 per 1,00,000 women in Mumbai being diagnosed with cancer (according to Population Based Cancer Registry) BNH HCG Cancer Center, a unit of HCG recently announced that it would be setting up a one of its kind women's cancer centre in Maharashtra. The cancer center is equipped to not only diagnose, but also provide advance treatment for all kinds of cancers in women such as breast cancer, cervical cancer, gall bladder cancer, oesophagus cancer, amongst others. There is a full time team of specialists to diagnose, treat as well as counsel women who have cancer.

The number of cases are expected to rise manifold in the next 20 years and early diagnosis of cancer leads to better medical outcomes and improves quality of life.

The center is equipped with Digital Mammogram and Automated Breast volume, an innovative ultrasound imaging system designed to provide three-dimensional views of the breast tissue for use in breast cancer screenings. The automatically acquired images provide physicians with data about the entire breast, including coronal view- a feature which was not available with conventional ultra sound systems. This helps radiologist differentiate cysts and calcifications from cancerous tumours.

Dr. Bhavana Parikh, Consultant, Medical Oncologist, BNH HCG Cancer Center, said, "The incidence of breast cancer among the urban women is on the rise and women in their early 40's are diagnosed with breast cancer, which is alarming. 90% of the breast cancers can be cured with optimal therapy if diagnosed early and patients can have good quality of life."

Dr. Sanjay Dudhat, Consultant, Surgical Oncologist, BNH Cancer Center, said, "With advancements in cancer treatment we are able to preserve the organs, since quality of life is as important as survival. For a patient diagnosed with breast cancer, losing the breast affects her psychologically, physically and mentally. It's very important to use organ preservation protocols, to improve quality of life and social well being. At BNH HCG Cancer Center, we do breast conservation surgery on almost all the patients diagnosed with breast cancer and cosmetic outcome of surgery is excellent."