Sri Ramakrishna Institute of Oncology and Research (SRIOR) at Sri Ramakrishna Hospital, Coimbatore, is observing World Breast Cancer Awareness Month by launching a series of Instagram Reels on breast cancer awareness in English and Tamil.
The launch event was held today, 30th September 2025, at the Sri Ramakrishna Hospital Auditorium.
Priyanka Karthikeyani, MD – P&S Group of Companies and CEO, Nav Hindustan Spinners, participated as the Chief Guest and launched the reels in the presence of R. Sundar, Managing Trustee, SNR Sons Charitable Trust. Dr. Guhan, Director of the institute, welcomed the gathering.
Ramkumar, CEO; Mahesh Kumar, Chief Administrative Officer from the Trust; Dr. Rajagopal, Medical Director; and Dr. Alagappan, Medical Superintendent, graced the occasion with their presence.
In his presidential address, R. Sundar emphasized that breast cancer can be cured if detected early. He noted that this is why SRIOR launches an innovative awareness campaign every year during Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
“Today, most people, irrespective of age, use social media platforms and consume information through them. We thought, why not use this medium to spread cancer awareness? We have developed 25 Instagram Reels about breast cancer,” he said.
“The goal is to make the youth aware of breast cancer so that they, in turn, can educate their peers and elders,” he added.
Dr. Guhan, in his address, shared that breast cancer in India is increasingly being diagnosed in women under the age of 50, a trend that was uncommon a few decades ago. He noted that the percentage of women around 35 years of age developing the disease has doubled from 2% to 4%.
He cited data indicating that more than 1,68,000 women in India were diagnosed with breast cancer in 2018, and this number rose alarmingly to over 2,20,000 in 2023, demonstrating a clear rise in new cases.
Dr. Guhan also discussed various risk factors, including early menarche, late menopause, first childbirth after the age of 30, regular alcohol intake, use of oral contraceptives, a sedentary lifestyle, obesity, and hereditary factors.
“On this crucial day, we emphasize the importance of early diagnosis because curative treatment is most effective when the disease is found in Stage 1 or Stage 2. Unfortunately, 50% to 60% of patients seek treatment only when the cancer has progressed to Stage 3 or Stage 4, where the cure rate and long-term survival are considerably lower,” he said.
He stressed the urgent need to increase public awareness, especially among women under 50. “Early detection often allows for simpler treatment, potentially requiring only surgery and medication, and makes breast conservation a viable option,” he explained.
To reach a younger audience, SRIOR has launched a series of 25 Instagram Reels covering crucial aspects of breast cancer, including its causes, symptoms, early diagnosis, different diagnostic modalities, staging, available treatment options, and patient counselling.
All videos will be uploaded on SRIOR Coimbatore’s official Instagram page (https://www.instagram.com/sriorcoimbatore), with one video planned for release each day.
As part of this year’s World Breast Cancer Awareness Month activities, mammogram tests will also be provided free of cost to women who book appointments via the phone numbers 0422-4389797 or 0422-4500203 on any working day during the month.
Dr. Karthikesh, Consultant Surgical Oncologist, SRIOR, proposed the vote of thanks.
