‘Timely screening can help control breast cancer’

LAHORE

As October is designated as month of breast cancer awareness worldwide, a breast cancer seminar was arranged at Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Oncology (INMOL), Lahore, to create awareness among women.

INMOL Director Dr Abu Baker Shahid, oncology head Dr Misbah Masood, consultant oncologists Dr Amira Shami, Dr Farrukh Rashid, Dr Ayesha Manan, Dr Sadia Sadiq, Dr Rafia, Dr Nida Fatima, Dr Asima, female paramedical staff, nurses from different hospitals also participated in the seminar.

INMOL Director Dr Abu Baker Shahid said Pakistan Atomic Energy had 18 cancer centres in all provinces of Pakistan and was providing state-of-the-art facilities to the people.

Dr Misbah Masood emphasised that early detection was key to treatment of breast cancer. It is estimated that every year nearly 90,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer out of whom 40,000 die.

The situation can improve if women undergo screening. The women aged 40 and above must have mammograms on annual basis.

Dr Sadia Sadiq said that healthy lifestyle was very important for the patients of breast cancer. Dr Ayesha Manan explained the possible ways to deal with breast cancer, including chemotherapy, radiation therapy, hormone therapy and targeted therapy.

Dr Nida Fatima said that it was an alarming situation that the incidence of breast cancer was highest in Pakistan among South Asian countries and this figure was continuously increasing. Early detection can lead to 90 percent decrease in cancer related mortality so women should immediately consult health care providers.

In the end, a question and answer session was organised.

more staff: Adviser to Punjab Chief Minister on Health Kh Salman Rafiq has said that the increasing number of patients in government hospitals is proof of public confidence in the medical facilities being extended there.

He stated this while chairing a meeting in the office of the  Punjab primary and secondary health secretary, according to a handout issued here on Wednesday.

The meeting reviewed the human resource requirements for Tehsil Headquarters Hospital, Muridke, Dialysis Centre, Muridke, THQ Hospital, Raiwind, Rana Abdul Rahim Hospital, Sodiwal and Government Samanabad Hospital.

The meeting approved provision of additional staff to the said hospitals, including gynecologist, medical officers, women medical officers, ENT surgeon, charge nurses, operation theatre attendants, laboratory and X-rays technicians, lady health visitors, ward boys and Ayas.Kh Salman Rafiq said that by providing additional staff to these hospitals, waiting time of the patients would be reduced and better health facilities would be available to the patients.

The meeting approved provision of 26 posts for the THQ Hospital, Muridke, which included gynecologist, anesthetist and charge nurses. Similarly, 36 posts were approved for THQ Hospital, Raiwind, 18 posts for Dialysis Centre, Muridke, three for Sodiwal Hospital, 20 posts for Government Samanabad Hospital, Lahore. 

convocation: The College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan (CPSP) will hold 50th convocation and Charter Day of CPSP on 4th and 5th November, 2016 respectively at CPSP Regional Centre, Lahore. Punjab Governor Malik Rafiq Rajwana will grace the convocation ceremony as chief guest.

The CPSP President Prof Zafarullah Chaudhry and Senior Vice-President Prof Khalid Masood Gondal along with council members highlighted the annual performance of CPSP.

Prof Khalid Masood Gondal informed that the fellowships and memberships will be awarded to 711 doctors, including 608 fellowships and 92 memberships.