Chandigarh: Breast cancer treatment often goes well beyond surgery and chemotherapy, with many patients requiring radiation, targeted or hormonal therapy and long-term follow-up. For eligible families in Punjab, the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojana (MMSY) can help reduce the financial burden by providing cashless treatment support of up to ₹10 lakh per family annually at government and empanelled private hospitals.
Breast cancer develops when abnormal cells in the breast grow and multiply uncontrollably. It is the most common cancer among women in India. According to ICMR-NCDIR estimates, 216,108 women were diagnosed with breast cancer in India in 2022, while the number was projected to reach 232,832 in 2025. The programme has estimated that one in 29 Indian women could develop breast cancer during their lifetime up to the age of 74.
Punjab Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Balbir Singh said the objective of the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojana is to ensure that financial constraints do not stop eligible patients from receiving quality healthcare. He stressed that financial hardship should not become a barrier to accessing necessary cancer treatment.
Dr Karuna Singh, Professor and Head of Radiation Oncology at the Advanced Cancer Institute, Bathinda, said breast cancer treatment can continue for several months and, in some cases, for considerably longer. Patients may require targeted or hormonal therapy and regular follow-up for years after the initial treatment. Follow-up care generally involves clinical examinations and investigations to monitor recovery, treatment-related side effects and any signs of recurrence.
According to Dr Singh, treatment depends on the stage and biological characteristics of the cancer. In locoregional disease, treatment may involve a combination of chemotherapy, surgery and radiation therapy, along with hormone therapy where indicated. In metastatic disease, chemotherapy may be used with or without immunotherapy depending on the patient’s individual condition.
Data from the State Health Agency (SHA), Punjab, shows that 15,494 breast cancer treatments worth ₹26.59 crore have been supported under the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojana. The highest number of recorded treatments, 4,515, was among women aged 50–59 years, followed by 4,141 cases among those aged 40–49 years and 3,557 among women aged 60–69 years. Another 1,332 cases were recorded in the 30–39 age group. Together, women aged 40–69 accounted for 12,213 recorded treatments.
Dr Manraj Singh Kang, Associate Professor of Radiation Oncology at Government Medical College and State Cancer Institute, Amritsar, said breast cancer treatment may include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, hormonal therapy and immunotherapy. Radiation treatment can include advanced techniques such as VMAT, 3D, IMRT, IGRT and brachytherapy, depending on the patient’s condition.
Dr Kang said breast cancer can have a genetic component and that the disease may behave differently depending on age and biological characteristics. In women diagnosed during their 30s and 40s, particularly before menopause, the disease may be more aggressive and can sometimes be hormone receptor negative or triple negative. In women aged 50 and above, breast cancer is more commonly hormone positive and may be less aggressive, with a generally better prognosis, particularly in stages 1 to 3.
He explained that two major surgical approaches are breast-conserving surgery and Modified Radical Mastectomy (MRM). Breast-conserving surgery aims to preserve the breast and may be possible in selected stage 1 to 3 cases. The final treatment plan depends on biopsy findings, tumour size and number, lymph-node involvement and other characteristics of the tumour.
For patients and families facing the prolonged treatment journey, financial assistance can play an important role in ensuring that care is completed. Rajinder Kaur from Sangrur underwent breast-conserving surgery with cryoplasty at Tata Memorial Hospital. Her husband, Parbu Singh, said the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojana enabled his wife to receive treatment without placing a financial burden on the family.
Dr Karuna Singh said the scheme can be particularly important for financially vulnerable families, with the majority of supported patients able to complete their treatment. The importance of the scheme, she said, is that it can help remove affordability as a barrier while medical decisions continue to be based on the patient’s clinical needs.
For families dealing with cancer, such financial support can ease pressure during a lengthy treatment journey and allow patients to focus on completing therapy, maintaining regular follow-up and moving towards recovery.
