Breast Cancer Care-It's Time to Rethink and Redesign

Notoriously recognized as the principal cause of mortality among women worldwide, breast cancer calls for an immediate redressal in order to devise combative strategies. Currently, Northern America and Western Europe experience more than half of the global burden of breast cancer [1]. However, as recently reported by International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), rapid societal and economic transitions herald an epidemiological shift in the incidence, with more low income countries projected for an increased burden of breast cancer [2]. Although the incidence rates remain higher in more developed countries, mortality and morbidity are higher in less developed regions, attributable to late detection and lack of access to advanced medical amenities. Regardless of epidemiological prevalence, the etiological determinants of breast cancer development remain common and include age, family history, genetic risk factors such as BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations and hormonal risk factors [3]. Although viruses have been etiologically associated with many cancers, a viral etiology to breast cancer is at best speculative. There is conflicting evidence of roles of viruses such as human mammary tumor virus, human papillomavirus, Epstein-Barr virus, human cytomegalovirus, herpes simplex virus and measles virus in breast cancer development [4]. Nonetheless, a recent development that levels of mutagenic antiviral enzyme APOBEC3B are elevated in a majority of breast cancers warrants a re-visit to the role of viruses in breast cancer pathogenesis [5]. Keeping in view the current scenario, there is an urgency to assess the worldwide trends and risk factors for prediction of future scenarios with the ultimate goal of developing effective, affordable and prioritized approaches for breast cancer control.