Alarming statistic: ‘40,000 women contract breast cancer every year’

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa records highest number of cases from the country in 2013.


Our Correspondent October 25, 2014

PESHAWAR:


Every year, around 40,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer in Pakistan.


Oncologist Dr Nabila shared the alarming statistic during her presentation for an awareness seminar on breast cancer held at Institute of Radiotherapy and Nuclear Medicine (IRNUM) on Saturday.

Addressing participants, she said IRNUM has registered around 5,114 cancer patients, including 2,506 males and 2,608 females, across Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.

Dr Nabila added the province recorded at least 667 breast cancer cases in 2013, which was the highest number of cases across the country. She said obesity, late marriages as well as not breast feeding babies were the main reasons.

The doctor urged seeking treatment on time, claiming there is a complete chance of recovery if breast cancer is diagnosed during its initial stages.



Also speaking on the occasion, IRNUM Director Dr Muhammad Rauf Khattak said the hospital is providing the best health care facilities to its patients. Besides IRNUM, cancer patients are also treated at Hayatabad Medical Complex and Ayub Medical Complex along with hospitals in Bannu and Swat, he added.

Dr Khattak said private sector hospitals like Rehman Medical Institute and North West Hospital are also providing treatment to cancer patients while Shaukat Khanum Memorial Hospital too will be constructed soon to facilitate patients in the province.

He added IRNUM is spending millions of rupees on treatment of cancer patients, adding medicines are very expensive.

Former deputy speaker of the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Assembly, Khushdil Khan, was the chief guest on the occasion. He appreciated the role of IRNUM in providing quality treatment.

At the end of the seminar, a walk was organised from Khyber Medical College to IRNUM in which students and doctors participated to raise awareness on breast cancer.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 26th, 2014.

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