Out of 4,000 cancer patients at the INMOL, 35 per cent suffer from breast cancer. PHOTO:FILE
“Pakistan has some of the highest numbers of breast cancer patients in South Asia, and the most unfortunate part is that 60 to 70 per cent of our patients are in advanced stages”, said Oncology Division Head Dr Misbah Masood at a seminar on breast cancer at the Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Oncology (INMOL) on Tuesday.
She said according to Globocan (a World Health Organisation project that provides estimates of the incidence of, mortality and prevalence from major types of cancers) breast cancer was the second most common cancer in the world.
She said women were affected by it more than any other type of cancer, with an estimated 1.67 million new cancer cases diagnosed in 2012, amounting to 25 per cent of all cancers.
She said it was the most common cancer in women in both developed and less-developed regions.
“Breast cancer ranks as the fifth cause of death from cancer overall. It is the most frequent cause of death from cancer for women in less-developed regions. It is now the second cause of cancer deaths in developed regions as well.
In developed regions, there is a higher likelihood of survival because of early detection, through successful population-based screening programmes,” said Masood.
She added that lifestyle changes, awareness programmes and high risk population should be prioritised in Pakistan to prevent cancer. She said these efforts could detect cancer early, thereby increasing chances of a cure.
INMOL Director Dr Abu Baker Shahid said the institute had been serving cancer patients for the last 30 years. He said nearly 4,000 cancer patients registered every year at the INMOL, out of which 35 per cent suffered from breast cancer.
Consultant Radiologist Rafia Shahzad said “One in nine women is likely to suffer from breast cancer. In Pakistan it is diagnosed late and affects younger women. Roughly, 50 per cent of the women with breast cancer in Pakistan die without seeking treatment.
About 40 per cent of women use alternative medicine before coming to a doctor”.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 5th, 2014.
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Just would like to add that Dr. Misbah Masood is a very knowledgeable, caring and intelligent doctor. I was visiting Pakistan from Canada and was diagnosed with breast cancer and made the decision to be treated in Pak and Dr. Misbah was the oncologist I chose after having shopped around and spoken with other doctors. By the grace of Allah, I am now 6 yrs in remission and I must say that Pak has one of the best options for cancer treatment. My advice is for women to be attentive to the changes in the health of their breasts and seek medical attention asap.