Late breast cancer diagnoses alarm medics

ISLAMABAD:

An oncologist has warned that between 70 and 75 per cent of women are diagnosed with breast cancer at an advanced stage.

According to a report, medical experts have emphasised that social taboos, stigma, and limited awareness remain major obstacles in the fight against breast cancer across the province.

Despite ongoing initiatives during Breast Cancer Awareness Month, many women icontinue to hesitate in seeking medical assistance, largely due to fear, shame, and misinformation surrounding the disease. Oncologist Dr Feroz Khan Achakzai explained that such delays frequently result in late-stage diagnoses, which drastically reduce the chances of effective treatment and recovery.

He stressed that addressing these deep-rooted social barriers is essential for improving early detection and treatment outcomes. A female oncologist underscored the need for coordinated action to combat this growing challenge. She noted that early diagnosis and regular screening are critical to improving survival rates and urged all sectors of society to work together to raise awareness and dismantle cultural barriers surrounding the disease.

Experts further expressed concern that many women, especially in remote areas still fear undergoing surgery after being diagnosed with breast cancer, largely due to myths and anxiety associated with surgical procedures.

However, medical specialists reiterated that timely surgical intervention remains one of the most effective forms of treatment - particularly when the disease is detected in its early stages.