Breast Cancer: A Silent Epidemic

News Desk

Multan: Breast cancer awareness is not just a call to action; rather, it’s a lifeline for countless women who are fighting a battle in the shadows, said speakers.

Nishtar Medical University Oncology Department Head Dr Ahmed Ejaz Masood stated that the lack of awareness and cultural stigmas hinder discussions on women’s health, thus breast cancer remains a silent epidemic.

Speaking at a symposium organised by the All Pakistan Women Association (APWA), Dr Ahmed maintained that one of the greatest challenges in Pakistan is the late diagnosis of breast cancer.

Due to fear, stigma and lack of awareness, many women avoid seeking medical help until their condition is advanced, so a late diagnosis results in lower survival rates, Oncologist added.

Meanwhile, Gynaecologist Dr Shehla Aftab shared her experiences as a clinician and informed the audience on symptoms, presentations and self-care to prevent disease.

Cancer Society President Dr Ahmed Ejaz asserted that self-examination should begin at the age of 20 so that an early-diagnosed ailment can be treated easily.

He told the participants how to do an examination for breast cancer.

Dr Ahmed suggested that lady health workers (LHWs) should be imparted training in breast cancer at APWA, for which he was ready to send a lady doctor to train them.

Dr Masood shed light on a host of issues contributing to breast cancer and added that broiler chicken should not be used frequently to avoid a number of diseases.