Breast cancer: Awareness session held at Holy Family Hospital

Experts encourage early diagnosis, self-examination

Every eighth woman is vulnerable to breast cancer, according to experts speaking at a seminar at the surgical department of Holy Family Hospital (HFH) on Saturday.

The event was presided over by Rawalpindi Medical College Principal Prof Muhammad Umar, and attended by the hospital’s medical superintendent Dr Shafique Sarwar, professor of surgery Dr Jahangir Sarwar, various senior officials, medical officers, nursing and paramedical staff.

Addressing the occasion, Prof Umar said that diseases and knowledge have no boundaries. He said keeping in view the prevailing situation of new epidemics, it is imperative to develop new capabilities to treat them.

Read: ‘Pink october’: Nawaz for breast cancer awareness

He lauded the efforts of Dr Sarwar and his teammates, for establishing a dedicated centre for extending breast cancer diagnoses and treatment facilities with complete privacy.

He added that trained lady doctors at the centre were helpful in treating breast cancer patients who hesitate to examine their ailment from male doctors.

Dr Sarwar said early diagnoses can prevent 90 per cent of breast cancer cases and that the social stigma surrounding the disease’s treatment must be addressed. He also advocated self-examination for women

He said women can consult lady doctors at HFH every Wednesday free of charge, adding that a public awareness campaign regarding breast cancer was under way.

According to HFH data from the last one year, 1,202 women were examined at the hospital, of which 138 cases of breast cancer found were discovered.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 11^th, 2015.