‘Late diagnosis, not breast cancer, the greatest threat’

Dr Rufina Soomro claims Pakistan has highest number of cases in Asia.

KARACHI: The greatest threat is not breast cancer. Rather, it is the late diagnosis of the disease, said Dr Rufina Soomro on Tuesday.

Dr Soomro, who is a general consultant and breast surgeon at the Liaquat National Hospital and Medical College,  was speaking at a seminar on Breast Cancer Awareness at Dr Essa Laboratory Diagnostic Centre in North Nazimabad. At the seminar, she spoke about the symptoms and treatment of the disease. She also clarified 10 of the common misconceptions about breast cancer.

“People think that if the mammogram report is clear, there is no need for concern. This is not true,” she said. “The notion that you can’t have breast cancer because there is no history of the disease in your family is also false.”



Dr Soomro said that regular self examination was the best method of detecting the disease at an early stage. She told The Express Tribune that eight to 10 new cases of breast cancer are reported in Pakistan every day. “Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer, and according to the Pink Ribbon Campaign, more cases of the disease are reported in Pakistan than anywhere else in Asia,” she added. More young women are also suffering from this cancer in Pakistan. According to Dr Soomro, early diagnosis means that the whole breast does not need to be removed and that fewer surgeries will be required. It also increases the chances of survival.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 21^st, 2012.