There is a greater need to spread awareness among people about breast cancer so that potential patients can come to the hospital for early detection and treatment. This was said by Dr Nabeela Javeed of Institute of Radiotherapy and Nuclear Medicine (IRNUM) here on Tuesday.
She was talking at a camp organised by IRNUM to mark the World Breast Cancer Day. The camp aimed to “to create awareness among the public regarding the terminal disease.”
She said that the number of patients of breast cancer coming to the hospital is increasing, adding that 50 to 60 patients come to the hospital monthly for diagnoses. She maintained that 600 patients, one third of whom are Afghanis, are diagnosed with breast cancer annually at IRNUM.
Javeed added that since 2009, they had registered 1,194 breast cancer patients including 1150 women and 44 men.
The pill, irregular menstruation cycles, marrying late, obesity and hereditary diseases are factors contributing to breast cancer, she added. “We can’t prevent cancer but its diagnosis at an early age prevents its spread,” she stated adding that if the cancer is diagnosed early, the survival rate exceeds 90%.
Omer Aftab, National Coordinator of the Pink Ribbon, said in a press release that Pakistan has the highest rate of breast cancer for any Asian population, adding 40,000 patients die every year due to the disease.
The camp will continue to run until October 30.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 27th, 2011.
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