KMU holds breast cancer awareness seminar
The growing number of breast cancer patients in society is a major challenge for all of us that can be met through joint efforts, especially through large-scale mass awareness. These views were expressed by Prof. Dr. Muhammad Saleem Gandapur, Registrar, Khyber Medical University (KMU), Peshawar, while addressing a seminar on Breast Cancer Awareness organized by Quality Enhancement Cell at KMU Multi Purpose Hall. Prof. Dr. Abid Jamil, Head, Department of Oncology, Hayatabad Medical Complex, Dr. Saima Abid, President, Public Health Association, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Dr. Amjad Ali and Asiya Bukhari, Director, QEC- KMU also addressed on the occasion.
Prof. Dr. Muhammad Saleem Gandapur termed the holding of the seminar as a need of the hour and said that the rising rate of malignant diseases like cancer is a major challenge for the entire society as well as medical research institutes and medical professionals. He said that early diagnosis of cancer could not only save the lives of cancer patients but also reduce the huge cost involved.He said that this insidious disease can be combated by creating awareness among the people on a large scale.
Earlier, experts elaborated on the statistics, causes, prevention and treatment of breast cancer, saying that 9.8 million women in Pakistan are affected by breast cancer, which leads to high-risk countries. Timely diagnosis of breast cancer can reduce the number of deaths per year by 90%. They said that the rising rate of breast cancer in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa can be estimated from the number i.e 15000 of patients suffering from breast cancer every year. ۔ Experts say that cancer usually affects the breast, bones, lungs, liver and stomach, with the highest rate being noted in the breast. They said that according to modern research and international standards, cancer can be easily diagnosed through CT scan instead of ultrasound and X-ray. They said that timely diagnosis of various stages of cancer could not only make the treatment effective but also prevent the loss of precious human lives.
Experts say that cancer is no longer incurable but due to high cost of treatment, in a poor and backward country like Pakistan, treatment is often beyond the reach of patients. They said that 32% of the 200,000 cases of cancer that occur in Pakistan every year are from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the treatment of which costs from Rs. 50,000 to Rs. 5 million. They said that one lakh people are dying every year due to this insidious disease which is a major challenge for the survival of humanity. They said that a study conducted on cancer patients at HMC has revealed that the average income of most cancer patients is only Rs.22000/= per month.
They said that with the special interest of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government, an eight-year project at a cost of Rs. 8 billion for the treatment of poor and needy cancer patients under a public-private partnership in collaboration with pharmaceutical companies in HMC. So far 6358 patients have been registered out of which 2000 patients have been treated during the year 2019. Experts emphasize that breast cancer can be controlled and cured by creating more awareness about breast cancer.
