{"id":1176,"date":"2026-09-29T17:12:08","date_gmt":"2026-09-29T11:42:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.prachihope.org\/?page_id=1176"},"modified":"2026-09-29T17:13:10","modified_gmt":"2026-09-29T11:43:10","slug":"screening-guide","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.prachihope.org\/mr\/screening-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"Screening Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

LEARN. SCREENING & EARLY DETECTION<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

Many cancers can
be found early<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Often before there are any symptoms \u2014 and that is when they are most treatable. This page explains which screenings matter, who should have them, and when, based on guidance for India.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Would rather talk to someone? Message on our WhatsApp- +91-7507044743<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
Why early detection changes everything<\/h6>\n\n\n\n

Take oral cancer, one of the most common cancers in India. The stage at which it is found makes an enormous difference to survival:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\n

~70%<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5-year survival when found early<\/strong>, before it spreads<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n

~9%<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5-year survival when found late<\/strong>, after it has spread<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Yet 60\u201380% of oral cancers in India are still found only at an advanced stage. Screening is how we change that number.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sources: JAMA Network Open (2025); ICMR\u2013NCDIR.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n

The three cancers we screen for<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
Breast<\/h6>\n\n\n\n

Most common cancer in Indian women (about 1 in 29)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

How it’s checked<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

By clinical breast examination \u2014 a trained clinician feels for lumps or changes \u2014 and, when a doctor advises, a mammogram.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
Cervical<\/h6>\n\n\n\n

Preventable \u2014 and often curable when caught early<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

How it’s checked<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

By visual inspection (VIA) or an HPV test. HPV vaccination prevents most cases in the first place.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
Oral<\/h6>\n\n\n\n

Among the most common cancers in Indian men<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

How it’s checked<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

By a simple visual and physical examination of the mouth by a doctor or dentist \u2014 quick and painless.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Who should be screened, and when<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
\n

Breast cancer screening<\/p><\/div>

<\/path><\/path><\/svg> <\/div>
<\/path><\/path><\/svg> <\/div><\/div><\/div>
\n

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among Indian women, and it can very often be treated successfully when found early. Screening looks for changes before they can be felt or noticed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What it involves:<\/strong> a clinical breast examination by a trained health worker or doctor, plus knowing your own body well enough to notice a change. A mammogram may be advised by your doctor depending on your age and risk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

See a doctor promptly about any new lump, change in the shape or skin of the breast, or discharge \u2014 at any age.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Cervical cancer screening<\/p><\/div>

<\/path><\/path><\/svg> <\/div>
<\/path><\/path><\/svg> <\/div><\/div><\/div>
\n

Cervical cancer is one of the most preventable cancers. Screening can find early changes years before they would ever become cancer, and those changes are easily treated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What it involves:<\/strong> a visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA), or an HPV test where available \u2014 both quick procedures done by a trained clinician. Separately, the HPV vaccine prevents most cervical cancers and is most effective when given before adolescence.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Oral cancer screening<\/p><\/div>

<\/path><\/path><\/svg> <\/div>
<\/path><\/path><\/svg> <\/div><\/div><\/div>
\n

Oral cancer is among the most common cancers in India, closely linked to tobacco in all its forms. It is also one of the easiest to check for \u2014 and one where early detection makes the biggest difference to survival.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What it involves:<\/strong> a visual and physical examination of the mouth, tongue, gums and cheeks by a doctor or dentist. You can also stay alert to changes yourself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

See a doctor or dentist about any mouth ulcer, white or red patch, lump, or area that does not heal within 2\u20133 weeks \u2014 especially if you use tobacco.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n

Knowing your own body<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Screening at a camp or clinic is one half of early detection. The other half is you \u2014 noticing when something changes and not waiting to get it checked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

PRACHI’s awareness sessions include simple self-examination guidance for breast and oral cancer. Learning what is normal for you makes it far easier to spot when something is not.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n

What does a screening result mean?<\/p><\/div>

<\/path><\/path><\/svg> <\/div>
<\/path><\/path><\/svg> <\/div><\/div><\/div>
\n

Screening is a first check, not a diagnosis. A normal result is reassuring \u2014 though it is not a lifetime guarantee, which is why screening is repeated over time. If a screening finds something that needs a closer look, it does not mean you have cancer; it means a further test is needed to be sure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If that happens at one of our camps, we will help you understand the next step and where to go.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
screening finds cancer early<\/h5>\n\n\n\n

We bring free screening for breast, cervical and oral cancer to communities across Maharashtra and Goa. Find a camp near you, or ask us to bring one to your community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
Host a Session<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

This page is general information adapted from PRACHI\u2019s cancer guide. It is not medical advice and is not a substitute for seeing a doctor. If you have symptoms or concerns, please consult a qualified physician.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

LEARN. SCREENING & EARLY DETECTION Many cancers canbe found early Often before there are any symptoms \u2014 and that is when they are most treatable. This page explains which screenings matter, who should have them, and when, based on guidance for India. Would rather talk to someone? Message on our WhatsApp- +91-7507044743 Why early detection […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"give_campaign_id":0,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1176","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"aioseo_notices":[],"campaignId":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.prachihope.org\/mr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1176","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.prachihope.org\/mr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.prachihope.org\/mr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.prachihope.org\/mr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.prachihope.org\/mr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1176"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.prachihope.org\/mr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1176\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1185,"href":"https:\/\/www.prachihope.org\/mr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1176\/revisions\/1185"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.prachihope.org\/mr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1176"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}