Breast screening at Mother Hospitals, Boduppal, Hyderabad includes clinical breast examination (CBE), breast self-examination education, and referral for mammogram or breast ultrasound. Recommended annually from age 40 (or earlier with family history). Early detection increases survival rates to over 95%. Call Dr. E. Prashanthi Reddy: 97059 93366.
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in Indian women. At Mother Hospitals, Boduppal, Dr. E. Prashanthi Reddy offers clinical breast examination, breast self-examination training, and referral for mammogram and ultrasound — giving you a comprehensive, expert-led breast health check.
MBBS, DGO, PG Diploma in ART – Kiel University, Germany | 20+ Years Experience | TGMC Reg: 50624
Breast cancer is highly treatable when caught early. The challenge is that early breast cancer almost never causes symptoms — no pain, no visible lump, no warning. Regular screening finds it before you ever feel it.
Breast cancer is now the most common cancer in Indian women, overtaking cervical cancer. According to ICMR data, India sees over 1.78 lakh new breast cancer cases per year, with nearly 90,000 deaths annually — one of the highest mortality rates in the world relative to incidence.
The reason India's breast cancer mortality is disproportionately high is not that the disease is more aggressive — it is that most Indian women are diagnosed at Stage III or Stage IV, when treatment is far more difficult. In the West, where regular mammogram screening is the norm, the majority of cases are caught at Stage I or II, when cure rates exceed 90–95%.
Indian women also tend to develop breast cancer at a younger age than Western women — the average age of diagnosis in India is 47–50, compared to 62 in Western countries. This means Indian women should begin screening earlier than international guidelines originally suggested.
In Telangana and Hyderabad specifically, urban lifestyle factors — later age of first pregnancy, fewer children, reduced breastfeeding duration, increased alcohol use, obesity, and hormonal contraceptive use — are contributing to rising breast cancer rates in women aged 30–50.
The survival benefit of early detection is dramatic and well-established:
Source: National Cancer Institute (NCI) SEER Database. Indian outcomes are improving but remain lower at each stage due to healthcare access disparities.
Understanding your risk helps determine when and how frequently to screen:
FOGSI recommends annual clinical breast examination for all women aged 40 and above. Women with first-degree relatives with breast cancer should begin screening 10 years earlier than the youngest affected family member (e.g., if your mother was diagnosed at 45, you should begin screening at 35).
At Mother Hospitals, we offer a clinical breast examination and breast self-examination education in-clinic. For imaging, we provide referrals to trusted diagnostic centres in Hyderabad for mammogram and breast ultrasound.
A clinical breast examination is a hands-on physical examination of your breasts by Dr. E. Prashanthi Reddy. It involves visual inspection of both breasts for size, symmetry, and skin changes, followed by systematic manual palpation (feeling) of the entire breast tissue, nipple, and axillary (armpit) lymph nodes. A skilled gynaecologist can detect abnormalities as small as 0.5–1 cm that a patient might miss during self-examination. CBE takes approximately 10 minutes and is completely private and pain-free.
Breast ultrasound uses high-frequency sound waves to create images of breast tissue. It is particularly useful for:
Breast ultrasound does not replace mammography for routine cancer screening in women over 40 — it complements it. Dr. Prashanthi Reddy will refer you to a trusted imaging centre in Hyderabad and review your ultrasound report in your follow-up consultation.
A mammogram is an X-ray of the breast. It is the gold-standard screening tool for breast cancer in women aged 40 and above, detecting tumours 1–2 years before they become large enough to feel. Digital mammography and 3D mammography (tomosynthesis) are now available in Hyderabad and offer improved sensitivity — especially for dense breasts.
Mammography is recommended annually for women aged 40–74 (FOGSI/ICMR). After a normal result, you continue annual mammograms. After an abnormal result, additional views, ultrasound, or biopsy may be recommended — Dr. Prashanthi Reddy will coordinate and counsel you through any follow-up steps.
Monthly breast self-examination (BSE) is not a substitute for clinical screening, but it is a powerful supplement. Many breast cancers are first detected by women themselves. The key is knowing what is normal for your breasts — so that any change is immediately obvious.
When to do it: 7–10 days after your period starts (breasts are least swollen and tender at this time). Post-menopausal women should choose a fixed day each month, such as the 1st.
Visual check in the mirror — arms at sides, then raised above head, then hands on hips pressing to flex chest muscles. Look for changes in shape, skin dimpling, redness, or nipple changes.
Lying down palpation — lie flat, right hand behind head. Using left fingers in small circles, cover entire right breast from collarbone to abdomen, armpit to breastbone. Use three levels of pressure: light, medium, firm. Repeat on left side.
Standing palpation — repeat the circular palpation while standing (many women do this in the shower). Check the armpit (axillary lymph nodes) with your arm slightly raised. Gently squeeze the nipple to check for any discharge.
At Mother Hospitals, Dr. Prashanthi Reddy teaches correct BSE technique during your breast screening visit. Many women have been doing BSE incorrectly — learning the right method significantly improves detection accuracy.
Screening frequency depends on your age and risk profile. Here is the evidence-based schedule for Indian women, aligned with FOGSI and ICMR recommendations.
✦ BSE = Breast Self-Examination | CBE = Clinical Breast Examination | MRI = Magnetic Resonance Imaging (for high-risk women). Source: FOGSI 2024, ICMR National Cancer Registry Programme guidelines.
Do not wait for your next scheduled screening appointment if you notice any of the following. Early presentation of symptoms leads to dramatically better outcomes.
About 80% of breast lumps are benign — fibroadenomas, cysts, or fatty tissue changes. But the only way to know for certain is to have them evaluated by a doctor. Never dismiss a lump because it is not painful — painless lumps are often the ones that matter most. Contact Dr. E. Prashanthi Reddy at Mother Hospitals: 97059 93366.
Breast screening at Mother Hospitals is led by Dr. E. Prashanthi Reddy, who brings 20+ years of women's health experience to every examination. Her specialist training means she can identify subtle clinical signs that a general practitioner or nurse might miss.
Combine your breast screening with a Pap smear, HPV vaccination, PCOS evaluation, or general gynaecology consultation in one visit. Complete women's health protection in a single appointment.
Every patient leaves their breast screening appointment knowing exactly how to examine their own breasts correctly — including technique, timing, and which findings to watch for. This extends your breast health vigilance between annual screenings.
When mammogram or ultrasound is required, Dr. Prashanthi Reddy refers you to certified diagnostic centres in Hyderabad with reliable reporting. She reviews your imaging results personally and explains findings in a language you can understand.
Breast examination requires a degree of trust and privacy that Mother Hospitals is committed to providing. Our dedicated examination space, female support staff, and Dr. Prashanthi Reddy's patient approach make the experience comfortable and reassuring.
The Mother 9 Annual Wellness Card (₹500) includes a clinical breast examination as part of nine women's health benefits — making annual breast screening genuinely affordable for all women in East Hyderabad.
Mammograms can be uncomfortable but are not usually painful. The breast is compressed between two plates for a few seconds to spread the tissue and obtain a clear X-ray image. Compression is necessary — it reduces radiation dose and improves image quality. Most women describe it as pressure or mild discomfort. If you have sensitive breasts, scheduling your mammogram one week after your period (when breasts are least tender) reduces discomfort. The examination takes about 15–20 minutes. Pain should not deter you — the brief discomfort is insignificant compared to the life-saving benefit of detection.
FOGSI recommends that Indian women begin annual mammogram screening from age 40. If you have a first-degree relative (mother, sister, or daughter) who had breast cancer, start screening 10 years before the age at which your youngest affected relative was diagnosed — so if your mother was diagnosed at 48, you should start screening at 38. Women with confirmed BRCA1/BRCA2 gene mutations should begin screening at age 25. Dr. E. Prashanthi Reddy will assess your personal and family history and tell you exactly when you should start.
See Dr. E. Prashanthi Reddy at Mother Hospitals as soon as possible — ideally within this week. Do not panic, but do not wait either. Approximately 80% of breast lumps turn out to be benign (fibroadenomas, cysts, lipomas), but the only way to be certain is a clinical examination followed by imaging (ultrasound or mammogram) and, if needed, a fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) or biopsy. Early evaluation, even when the lump turns out to be harmless, gives you certainty and peace of mind. Call 97059 93366 today.
Yes. Breast cancer can occur during breastfeeding, and any new lump or breast change during this period should be evaluated promptly. Mammograms can be performed during breastfeeding (drain milk just before the exam for comfort). Breast ultrasound is also fully safe during breastfeeding and often preferred as a first-line imaging tool in this group, as lactating breast tissue can be dense and difficult to interpret on mammogram alone. Clinical breast examination is always safe at any stage.
They detect different things and work best together. Mammography is superior for detecting microcalcifications (tiny calcium deposits that may be an early sign of cancer) and is the gold standard for population screening. Breast ultrasound is superior for: evaluating dense breast tissue, distinguishing cysts from solid masses, and guiding biopsies. For women under 40 with dense breasts, ultrasound is often the preferred initial imaging tool. For women 40 and above, annual mammogram remains the standard, with ultrasound added when needed. Neither test alone is perfect — this is why clinical breast examination by a specialist is a vital part of the overall strategy.
If your mother (or another first-degree relative — sister or daughter) had breast cancer, you are at approximately double the average risk. FOGSI and most international guidelines recommend beginning breast cancer screening 10 years before the age at which your youngest affected relative was diagnosed, but no later than age 40. You should also consider genetic counselling for BRCA1/BRCA2 testing, particularly if your relative was diagnosed before age 50, had bilateral (both-breast) cancer, or if there are multiple affected family members. Please discuss your specific family history with Dr. Prashanthi Reddy — she will personalise your screening plan.
BRCA1 and BRCA2 are genes that normally help prevent cancer. Inherited mutations in these genes significantly increase lifetime breast cancer risk — BRCA1 carriers have a 55–72% lifetime risk; BRCA2 carriers have a 45–69% risk (compared to approximately 12% in the general population). BRCA testing is a blood test that detects these inherited mutations. It is recommended if you have: multiple first-degree relatives with breast or ovarian cancer, a relative diagnosed under age 50, a male relative with breast cancer, or Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry. Mother Hospitals can guide you on genetic counselling and BRCA testing referral in Hyderabad.
Monthly. Breast self-examination should be performed once a month, consistently. Premenopausal women should do it 7–10 days after the start of their period, when the breasts are least tender and swollen. Post-menopausal women should choose a fixed calendar date each month (e.g., the 1st). The purpose of monthly BSE is not to replace clinical screening — it is to familiarise yourself with the normal look and feel of your breasts, so that any change becomes immediately apparent. Changes to watch for: new lump, skin dimpling, nipple discharge, change in shape, or unexplained pain. Dr. Prashanthi Reddy teaches correct BSE technique at every breast screening visit.
Dr. E. Prashanthi Reddy · TGMC Reg: 50624