Seminar: Specialists call for raising breast cancer awareness

The disease constitutes about 35 per cent of all cancers among women and 17 per cent overall

ISLAMABAD:

As part of the Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign and to express solidarity with cancer patients, the Nuclear Medicine Oncology and Radiotherapy Institute (NORI) organised a grand seminar on Saturday.

In his welcome address, NORI Director Dr Javaid Irfan briefed the participants regarding the services being provided by Pakistan Atomic Energy Cancer Hospitals in general and NORI in particular.

He stated that NORI was not only providing cancer treatment facilities to a large population but has been providing dedicated breast cancer screening services since 1996. Dr Irfan emphasised on the role of educating the masses about cancer.

“Cancer treatment services need to be expanded in the country and there is dire need of dedicated breast care clinics in tertiary care hospitals. Lady health workers, general practitioners and gynaecologists can play their roles in early detection of breast cancer,” he suggested.



A lecture, conducted by consultant oncologist at NORI Dr Humera Mahmood, informed participants of the growing number of cancer patients. “Breast cancer in Pakistan constitutes about 35 per cent of all female cancers and 17 per cent overall. Inspite of breast cancer being so common, more than 60 per cent of patients are still present in advanced stage of the disease due to lack of awareness, poverty and social and cultural taboos”.

Dr Mohammad Faheem, head of the oncology department at NORI, citing International Agency for Research on Cancer statistics, said the number of cancer patients worldwide has gone up from 12.7 million in 2008 to 14.1 million in 2012 and is expected to reach 19.3 million in 2025.

Faheem reiterated that breast cancer incidence and breast cancer related mortality has increased by more than 20 per cent and by 14 per cent respectively. He further said that breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer related deaths and the most frequently diagnosed cancer in women.

The event was attended by more than 350 women from different walks of life, dignitaries, eminent surgeons, gynaecologists, radiologists, pathologists, teachers from different schools, colleges and universities, both medical and non-medical students, nurses and paramedical staff and patients and their relatives.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 26^th, 2014.