Kochi: Medical experts have raised concern over the rising incidence of breast cancer in India’s urban centres, linking the trend to changing lifestyles, stress and possible exposure to pollutants.

The warning came at the recently concluded ‘YIR Revisited – (Kerala Chapter) Breast Cancer: The Year That Was 2025’ conference held in Kochi. The event was organised by the Cochin Oncology Group (COG) in association with the Nag Foundation.

Specialists noted that breast cancer rates are steadily increasing both globally and across India, with a sharper rise seen in densely populated cities.

Doctors at the conference highlighted that sedentary routines, fast-food consumption and high stress levels at work and home are emerging as key health risks.

They said that modern urban living patterns may be weakening immune systems, reducing the body’s natural defence against diseases, including cancer. Experts also pointed to growing concerns about environmental pollution and its possible role in increasing cancer risk.

The Kochi meet featured presentations on several pathbreaking oncology studies published in 2025. Around 100 oncologists participated in the “Year in Review” (YIR) session, which examined major scientific advances in cancer diagnosis and treatment over the past year.

The Kerala chapter of the event was led by Dr. Arun R. Warrier, Secretary of COG and Senior Consultant in Medical Oncology at Aster Medcity.

Dr. Shona Nag, Director of Oncology at Sahyadri Hospital, Pune, and Trustee of the Nag Foundation, said the YIR initiative was conceptualised over a decade ago to help busy specialists stay updated on global cancer research.

“Originally conceptualized 13 years ago to help busy specialists stay updated, this year’s YIR focused on smart targeted therapies . These advancements allow for more accurate diagnoses and treatments tailored to a patient's specific DNA, ensuring that the latest global medical science is directly applied to heal the community in Kerala,” she said.