‘Breast cancer awareness vital to curbing rising cases’

LAHORE
Fifty percent of breast cancer cases were detected at the age of 46 years at an advanced stage when the cure had become next to impossible, Dr Zeba Aziz, Lahore’s first woman oncologist and haematologist, said on Tuesday. She was speaking at a seminar organised by the International Women’s Club (IWC) at a local hotel.
The IWC is a forum for spreading social awareness to address public issues and for the month of October they chose breast cancer as their theme. The seminar included guests from South Asian countries, including Sri Lanka and India.
Dr Aziz said that cancer was considered as the ‘first killer disease’ in developing countries and was steadily rising, especially among those belonging to lower socio-economic classes. In Asia, she said, Pakistan had the highest breast cancer incidence mostly because of lack of awareness and health facilities.
Most people were not only unaware of how to identify the disease but were also unable to afford the treatment once the cancer was detected. Breast cancer was usually detected late, said Dr Aziz, and explained that it was based on factors such as age, having children after 30 years of age, not breastfeeding, obesity, family history and genetics and excessive use of alcohol.
However, she added that in 80 percent of the cases detected, there were no risk factors involved and recommended that women should have regular check-ups. She recommended that women after the age of 20, should regularly check for breast cancer symptoms and have a clinical breast exam.
She said that a yearly clinical exam was essential for women between 20 to 30 years of age while those in early twenties should get themselves examined every month. She said mammography was important for women above 40 years of age. “It is better to have regular check-ups than discovering that one has cancer at a critical/advanced stage,” she said.
“Women should spread awareness among their poorer and uneducated fellows whom they come across every day, so that this issue is given its importance.” She said treatment options included breast conservation surgery, mastectomy, radiation chemotherapy and targeted therapy, depending on the stage of the cancer.
The IWC seminar included performances by children from IWC’s Hope School, a school which specifically enrols underprivileged children. The performances included a small play, dances and a Mushaira.