Breast cancer treatment can extend well beyond surgery and chemotherapy, with some patients requiring radiation, targeted or hormone therapy and prolonged follow-up. For eligible beneficiaries, the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojana (MMSY) can help address one barrier to continuity of care by providing cashless treatment support of up to ₹10 lakh per family annually through government and empanelled private hospitals.
Breast cancer occurs when abnormal cells in the breast grow and multiply uncontrollably. It is the most common cancer among women in India. According to the Indian Council of Medical Research–National Centre for Disease Informatics and Research (ICMR-NCDIR), an estimated 216,108 women were diagnosed with breast cancer in India in 2022, with the number projected to rise to 232,832 in 2025. The programme estimated that one in 29 Indian women could develop breast cancer during their lifetime up to age 74.
On this, Punjab Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Balbir Singh has emphasised that the objective of Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojana is to ensure that financial hardship does not prevent eligible patients from accessing quality healthcare. “Any financial hardship should not prevent eligible patients from accessing quality cancer treatment,” he said.
Dr Karuna Singh, Professor and Head of Radiation Oncology at the Advanced Cancer Institute, Bathinda, said the treatment journey can extend over several months and, for some patients, considerably longer. “Breast cancer treatment can be prolonged, and some patients require extended therapy and follow-up. The initial phase of breast cancer treatment may extend over several months, while some patients require targeted or hormonal therapy and long-term follow-up for years,” she informed.
Regular follow-up may then continue for years, with clinical examinations and investigations used to monitor recovery, side effects and signs of recurrence.
Dr Karuna Singh stressed that treatment depends on the stage and biological characteristics of the disease. She stated, “For locoregional disease, treatment may involve chemotherapy, surgery and radiation therapy, with hormone therapy where indicated. For metastatic disease, chemotherapy may be used with or without immunotherapy, depending on the individual case.”
Data from the State Health Agency (SHA), Punjab, records 15,494 Breast Cancer treatments worth ₹26.59 crore supported under Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojana. The largest number of recorded cases was among women aged 50–59 years, at 4,515, followed by those aged 40–49 years at 4,141 and 60–69 years at 3,557. Another 1,332 cases were recorded among those aged 30–39 years. Together, the 40–69 age groups accounted for 12,213 recorded treatments.
Dr Manraj Singh Kang, Associate Professor, Radiation Oncology, Government Medical College & State Cancer Institute, Amritsar, said treatment includes surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy (including VMAT, 3D, IMRT, IGRT and brachytherapy), hormonal therapy and immunotherapy.
In many women, breast cancer has a genetic component. “If it occurs in the 30s–40s, especially before menopause, it may be more aggressive, hormone receptor negative or triple negative, whereas in women aged 50 and above, it is hormone positive, generally less aggressive and the prognosis is often better, particularly in Stages 1–3,” he said.
Dr Kang further added, “There are two main surgical options: breast-conserving surgery, which aims to preserve the breast and may be possible in Stages 1–3, and Modified Radical Mastectomy (MRM). The choice of treatment depends on factors such as the biopsy results, number and size of tumour, lymph-node involvement, and other tumour characteristics.”
Rajinder Kaur from Sangrur underwent breast-conserving surgery with cryoplasty at Tata Memorial Hospital. Her husband, Parbu Singh, said, “The Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojana has been a miracle for our family. My wife received the best treatment without any financial burden. We are thankful to the government for providing such healthcare facilities.”
Dr Karuna Singh said Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojana can be particularly significant for financially vulnerable families. “Majority of them are able to finish their treatment with this support.” The significance of the scheme, she said, lies not in influencing medical decisions but in helping remove affordability as a barrier to completing care.
For families facing prolonged cancer treatment, such support can mean fewer financial pressures and greater focus on completing treatment, maintaining follow-up and moving towards recovery.