LAHORE: Medical experts say one out of every nine women in the country is at risk of breast cancer butearly diagnosis and timely treatment can save the lives of thousands of women every year.

Pakistan ranks seventh in the world in terms of the number of deaths from breast cancer. It has the highest prevalence of breast cancer among Asian countries, with an estimated 90,000 new cases emerging annually.

Up to 40,000 Pakistani women die every year because of breast cancer, which can be controlled through raising awareness among women about the early diagnosis.

Addressing a seminar on breast cancer awareness here at the University of Health Sciences (UHS), on Wednesday,INMOL Hospital Director Dr Abu Bakar Shahid, said that 89 per cent of cancer patients in Pakistan were being treated in 18 hospitals running under the Atomic Energy Commission.

He apprised that breast clinics had been set up in the hospitals of the Atomic Energy Commission for early screening of breast cancer patients. He added the rate of breast cancer in men was two to three per cent.

Noted psychiatrist Dr Ismat Laghari said the battle of breast cancer was fought on both physical and psychological fronts.

“In Pakistan, along with the fear of disease, women also have to fight the economic fear,” she said, adding that all these fears also affected the human immune system.

She urged that doctors, paramedics and nurses needed to be trained in how to communicate with and listen to these patients with empathy and compassion.

Vice Chancellor Prof Javed Akram said that all cancers, including breast cancer, are on the rise in the country.

He said that a study group is being formed at the national level on breast cancer. The research group includes scientists and researchers from all medical universities in the country.

Prof Fridoon, Prof Nadeem Afzal, Dr Shah Jahan and others from the UHS would be part of the study group, he said.

He added that the study group would identify various risk factors that contribute to the likelihood of developing breast cancer, including age, reproductive health history, hereditary and lifestyle. The report of this study group would be made public in October 2021, said Prof Javed Akram.

Akhuwat Foundation Chairman Dr Amjad Saqib, in his video message said breast cancer is treatable and early diagnosis is the first step of treatment.

Consultant Oncologist Dr Ehsanur Rehman said that more men than women needed to be aware of breast cancer.

“Unless you add blue with pink, the knot will not open”, he said, indicating that men should also be taken into the loop with regards to breast cancer awareness.

Founder Cancer Care Hospital, Professor Shehryar, said that 71 per cent of women would see a doctor at the last stage of cancer and, as a result, half of the women with breast cancer die in the first year of diagnosis.

Published in Dawn, October 29th, 2020