Breast cancer higher among young women

The prevalence of breast cancer is higher among the young women in the country. It is considered the second most common cause of death due to cancer. Pakistani traditional society is one of the main reasons for spread of this disease. There is no system in the country, at public or private level, to keep the record of the cancer incidents. Some of the major causes of this disease among women included alcohol drinking, being overweight and never having children. These views were expressed by Dr Azmina Tajdin Vali Muhammad, Lecturer and Consultant Hematologist and Oncologist, Department of Medicine, Aga Khan University Hospital, while speaking at the 14th Public Awareness Seminar on “Breast Cancer”, held in Prof Salimuzzaman Siddiqui Auditorium, International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences, Karachi University (KU) on the other day. The seminar was jointly organised by Dr Panjwani Center for Molecular Medicine and Drug Research (PCMD), KU and Virtual Education Project Pakistan (VEPP). Health professionals, students, research scholars, NGO representatives, and general public attended the program. Dr Azmina said that, as per ACS, breast cancer can be defined as a malignant tumor that has developed within the cells of the breast; the breast cancer cannot be prevented but early diagnosis and treatment are inevitable for the treatment of the disease. She said: “Screening exams for early breast cancer detection, such as mammograms, may help find cancer before it starts to cause symptoms. Breast cancer screening means checking a woman’s breasts for cancer before there are signs or symptoms of the disease. Due to the traditional norms and values in the country, there is lack of tendency among women towards screening exams for early breast cancer detection; Pakistani traditional society is one of the main reasons for spread of this disease. Some physicians feel shy to ask their female patients for screening exams for breast cancer detection, which is nonprofessional attitude causing health trouble among female patients.” She advised the female citizens to eat right, exercise regularly and get their breast cancer screening done annually to live healthy.