Kochi, Nov 1 (IANS): With around 1.5 lakh breast cancer cases being diagnosed every year in India, health experts Saturday called for more public awareness and community screening before the disease takes on epidemic proportions.

"Public awareness, community screening for early detection are essential interventions to save a lot of lives before the disease takes epidemic proportions," said Prem Nair, director of Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences (AIMS) here.

He was speaking at a national seminar on 'Practical issues in the management of breast cancer'. The seminar was organised to raise general awareness about the disease.

It was attended by leading oncologists from across the state and some international experts.

On its part, AIMS announced free breast screening mammogram for 100 women above the age of 50.

K. Pavithran, head of medical oncology department in AIMS, said: "AIMS has an advanced facility to screen breast cancer - Sentinel Lymph node biopsy, a procedure based on newer molecular classification based on Immunohistochemical markers."

Breast cancer is taking on epidemic proportions in India, and it is now the leading cause of cancer death in Indian women. Roughly 1.5 lakh new cases are being diagnosed every year and close to 70,000 women die of breast cancer, according to Globocan (WHO) Data 2012.

Susan Thomas, a home maker from Kottayam who had to undergo breast removal surgery two decades ago, told IANS that in those days there was hardly any awareness programme on breast cancer.

Hence, many women like her had no opportunity for undergoing preliminary breast cancer related checkups, like what is available now.

"I have two daughters both married and I myself have taken them for screening tests including mammography. I have told them that they have to take this test once in two years besides conducting a self test to detect any lump. No one told me about these things," said Thomas.