An enemy within

Pakistan has the highest number of breast cancer cases in Asia: NIH

The word ‘Cancer’, carries with it an ominous and a heavy tone, what a person goes through after hearing such a diagnosis is unimaginable. Just feeling low on energy and aches and pains here and there, and suddenly one finds out through the doctor who frowns at the report and calmly tells the patient to get a ‘screening’ done. It is more than an average person can take. Till the report does not come, the patient suffers the agony of ‘not knowing’, fear of the unknown is one if the worst psychological traumas one can go through. Getting the diagnosis of cancer is akin to getting a death warrant, however one’s health is, no human being can hear such a diagnosis and not have a nervous breakdown. However, in a society which is highly judgmental, it becomes extremely difficult for a patient to absorb the aftershocks of such a diagnosis, the treatment itself and to handle the people around them who exhibit little to no empathy. The patient has to put on a brave face, otherwise, apart from the excruciatingly difficult treatments and procedures, one might be tagged as a ‘coward’, or people might just tauntingly point out about ‘karma’ being served. This points to the darkness of human psyche that no one wants to talk about.

There are treatment options available, but those options are very costly and for an average person with an average income it is almost impossible to manage, there are hospitals which offer free treatment, but with the exponential rise in Cancer cases, the hospitals and free treatment almost negligible. According to the latest census conducted by the Government of Pakistan, the current population of Pakistan is approximately 245 million with 48.8 percent being women. If we were to deduce that number of women ratios against men is exactly half, that is 50 percent, that would mean 122.5 million are women.

According to official statistics, one in every nine woman is diagnosed with breast cancer, if we were to round that figure up to 10, and calculate, about 1.22 million women in Pakistan are currently battling this disease. The figures point a dangerous picture, the ailment known as breast cancer is akin to an epidemic, if that is not a cause for concern, then it is far scarier than one would assume. The most frightening aspect is that fact that the figures quoted are the ‘reported’ cases, imagine among 122.5 million women how many are those who do not know that they have this affliction. Dr. Asghar Hussain Asghar, Director of Karachi Institute of Radiotherapy and Nuclear Medicine (KIRAN), which is under Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission says that, “KIRAN Institute treats approximately 100,000 cancer patients annually. 30 percent of these patients visiting KIRAN Institute are women who have ave breast cancer. There is no prevention of this disease but early detection is crucial, as the survival rate increases, here at KIRAN Institute, we are offering free of cost mammogram screening, I urge women to get their mammograms done.”

The question that comes to mind is why is there an exponential rise of breast cancer, Dr. Asghar explains, “it is because of awareness campaigns, and we have better detection tools, that more and more women are finding out about it. As far as why the rapid increase? I really don’t think so, but yes, hormonal imbalance can be linked as a major factor in this disease.” Dr. Asghar urges women of all ages to get themselves examined regularly.

Irum is a 38-year-old working lady, she is unmarried and lives with her mother and sister. She has been working for DHA Karachi since 2016, only last year, she noticed a slight lump. She discussed it with her friends at work who advised her to get a medical checkup done, which she did, but the reports came out clear. Relieved, she went about her life as it was before, till months later she started experiencing pain, this time, she was not so fortunate as the doctors told her the bleak diagnosis, the world as she knew it, collapsed around her. She had to battle many a pervasive thought, she kept the diagnosis from her family fearing they would be devastated at hearing such news, “I kept it from my family as I did not want to worry them, my cancer was stage 3 and I could not believe that this could happen to me as no one in y family has had this, I am not married, I am not over 40, so why did I get it?” Tears in her eyes, she asks this rhetorical question and no one knows how to calm her mind. One thing, however, is clear that women from all age groups are at a risk, it really doesn’t matter whether or not they are married or single, this is spreading exponentially.

Irum had to undergo a surgery to remove the cancerous tumour, but bad news awaited her as she regained consciousness, her beloved father passed away, as the anesthesia wore off from her. She was met with a gloom, that still hangs heavy around her. She is still undergoing treatment, sometimes she is too weak to walk, but walk she does. Her eyes have a determined look about them; she will beat this disease. It is important to note that all her struggles unfolded while she was working, DHA Karachi supported her, did not overburden her with too much work, and stood by her side. Even when the odds were against her, her office was one place she felt safe. This is what the need of the hour is, companies need to have a more empathetic stance towards their employees where they do not fear being fired because they could not come to office. “I remember, some patients were in a hurry during their chemo sessions as they had to go to work”, says Irum, “I used to be surprised as to how they would manage as the chemo’s side effects are dire, but I guess, their companies did not much care for them, DHA Karachi was very supportive during my chemo and even after, which is very important.”

In today’s economy, where things have become so expensive, the cost of living is at an all-time high, there is no other option for people other than work, but at what cost? Medical bills are high and majority of companies phase off people who are unwell, and a diagnosis like cancer, is according to many heads of a company, a liability. They do not cite cancer as being the reason for phasing off an employee, it is usually ‘lack of focus’, ‘not coming on time’, ‘making mistakes’ are the reasons given.

Though there are no laws currently in place which can offer some protection to the employees who have this ailment, companies, should have a more humane stance on the subject. It is understandable that companies work to earn money, it is also a fact, that at least cancer does not discriminate, the discrimination of cancer patients (a well-kept secret) needs to stop. Empathy really goes a long way, DHA Karachi has set the bar high when it comes to empathy, only time will tell, who will follow in their footsteps.

Journalist based in Karachi