KARACHI, April 9: Oncologists have urged timely intervention with particular reference to necessary examinations and drug management to arrest cancer-induced mortality in the country.

Prof Tariq Siddiqui of the Oncology Department of the Aga Khan University, addressing a symposium organized by HOPE (Emerald), said that improvement in medical technology had helped early detection of the disease.

He said that experience as well as concrete studies conducted over the years had also established the fact that proper management, with particular reference to chemotherapy, prior to surgical intervention of the malignant parts, helped reducing the surgical as well as psychological trauma, generally witnessed among cancer patients.

The oncologist said the intensity of trauma associated with complete mastectomy (surgical removal of breast together with some pectoral muscles lymph modes of armpits ) could be contained through proper and careful application of chemotherapy.

Prof Shaista Masood Khan of the General Surgery Department of the Aga Khan University advised local women above 35 years of age to ensure breast self-examination followed by annual mammography on attaining the age of 40.

She said that adequate management of the disease through proper medication under the supervision of a qualified oncologist could considerably improve the life quality of the majority of women inflicted with the ailment.

The senior surgeon also presented various techniques of the breast preservation surgery.—APP