‘Lack of awareness behind late diagnosis of breast cancer’

Islamabad : Federal Minister for Inter Provincial Coordination (IPC) Dr. Fehmida Mirza Saturday said that lack of awareness, fear of unknown and stigmas attached with breast cancer in our society are major contributors to the late diagnosis of this disease.

She was speaking as a chief guest at the breast cancer awareness seminar under the slogan ‘Give Hope, Save Lives’ followed by an awareness walk organized by the Atomic Energy Cancer Hospital (AECH), NORI.

Dr. Fehmida Mirza stressed on the need for awareness about breast cancer not only in females but also in males and told how three of her male family members got affected with breast cancer. In her address, the minister shared her experience as a cancer survivor saying, “We never realize its horror until it hits us. ”She shared how her fight against cancer made her realize that she should take up the issue at the Parliament being the Speaker of the house and that was when the awareness-related campaign started.

Talking about the need for Centralised Cancer Registry, the minister expressed concern on the alarming figures about Pakistan where only 10% cancer patients are diagnosed at stage-1 whereas in developed countries the ratio of diagnosis at the early stage was 50%. The minister further said that all provinces especially Sindh government should ensure that Prime Minister’s initiative of Health Cards (Sehat Sahulat Card) be provided to all citizens in the province like Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab.

“This was of crucial importance because after devolution of health ministry, the responsibility of provinces has increased manifold and since lack of resources on part of the patients was major reason for late diagnosis, provinces should work hard to reduce gap between increasing population and depleting health services,” she said.

She also asked all media houses to play their role in spreading awareness by broadcasting prime-time shows regarding breast cancer. Earlier, Director, Atomic Energy Cancer Hospital (AECH) NORI, Dr. Mohammad Faheem welcomed the participants of the awareness activity and shared details about the newly added facilities at the hospital which included the addition of high energy linear accelerator, cyber knife, PET CT, Digital Mammography with Tomosynthesis and other equipment.

He shared the alarmingly high figures of breast cancer prevalence among women in Pakistan saying that Breast Cancer accounts for nearly 40 % of all female malignancies which is the highest in Asia and it constitutes 25% in both the genders” Wife of Chairman PAEC, Muneera Naeem who attended the seminar as guest of honor, in her address stressed on need for early diagnosis being key to cure cancer