LAHORE, Oct 22: Cases of breast cancer are alarmingly increasing in Pakistan and almost 90 per cent of them are being reported at an advanced stage when it is hard to cure the disease. An early detection of the disease can save lives.

This was stated by Ganga Ram Hospital’s breast surgeon Dr Farogh Zahra while speaking at a seminar in connection with breast cancer awareness campaign arranged by Pink Ribbon at Kinnaird College. She also elaborated upon the symptoms, causes, various stages of breast cancer and cures.

Pink Ribbon national co-coordinator Omer Aftab said Pakistan had the highest rate of breast cancer in any Asian population. Every year, he said, some 83,000 women were being diagnosed with the cancer while 40,000 women died of the disease.

He said people should overcome social taboos and take up the matter seriously to save lives. He said Pink Ribbon had taken initiative to raise awareness among Pakistanis regarding breast cancer. He said the main target audience was the youth so that they could encourage their relatives, particularly mothers, for regular self-examination and mammograms.

Later, Volunteer Services director Aqdus Aslam highlighted the aspects of the volunteer involvement and motivated the college students to join the campaign. —Staff Reporter