"Pakistan ranked the highest among Asian countries susceptible to Breast Cancer"

 

 

     Humans have been prone to chronic diseases since ages. Every disease put hundreds and thousands of people to death but it is technology and knowledge that helped man to fight against them. In the advanced era of 21^st century, mankind is still fighting with deadly viral and bacterial diseases. Dengue fever, Congo fever, polio, hepatitis and many more are serious ailments these days and fastest emerging, lethal breast cancer is one of them.

    Numerous researches and experts give surprising figures of breast cancer patients. In Pakistan, more than 2 crore women are suffering from breast cancer. Many studies have also shown that every 1 out of 9 women is susceptible to breast cancer and 40,000 women including young girls, elderly and old age ladies die yearly of this disease. Not only urban but rural ladies also are prone to breast cancer even at higher rates which are increasing each year. Figures also suggests that Pakistan ranks high among the Asian countries susceptible to breast cancer. Experts fear that the rates may increase in near future. Inaugurating a breast cancer clinic at local hospital, Rawalpindi Medical College Principal Dr. Muhammad Umar said that Pakistan is at an alarming state in terms or breast cancer as it reports the highest incidence of the disease in Asia. On the other hand, in west every 1 out of 8 women is at risk of breast cancer.

   Carcinogenic cells in a female’s chest usually generate after 40 years of age yet several cases have been recorded showing early stages of breast cancer in young girls. Oncologists say that breast cancer usually occur because of unreasonable lactating habits of a mother whereas in several cases of cancerian cells have been seen generating in females having deliberate late child birth.

   As all cancers, breast cancer also grows through various hidden symptoms. The most common symptom of breast cancer is a new lump or mass. A painless, hard mass that has irregular edges is more likely to be cancerous, but breast cancers can be tender, soft, or rounded. They can even be painful. Possible symptoms can be; swelling of all or part of a breast, skin irritation or dimpling, breast pain, redness, scaliness, or thickening of the nipple or breast skin or even nipple discharge (other than breast milk).  Occurrence of such symptoms is off-course not pleasing for anyone but females belonging to all age groups should be vigilant to locate any such signs as soon as they appear.

    Though breast cancer is a very painful disease yet technology, research and knowledge has made this curable as all. Many medicines, therapies and highly educated and experienced doctors are available now a days to resist the carcinogenic cells. The very first and initial step in diagnosis of this cancer is biopsy which is a minor surgery conducted to examine the tumor’s carcinogenic properties. Mammogram, a test like X-Ray, is done to examine breast changes. Regular mammogram screening at the age of 50 keeps you at a bay from this disease. Further treatment goes as suggested by the oncologist. Regular sessions of therapies commonly chemotherapy and radiology are conducted to cure tumors. Numerous medicines of long term dosage are prescribed for oral treatment. In cases where the lump or carcinogenic mass spreads to different parts of the body, it is operated to stop the further growth of the infected cells.

    There are certain remedies to be followed to keep oneself away from cancer specifically breast cancer. It is said that ‘early diagnosis saves life’, so the first and foremost thing is the vigilance of young girls and elderly ladies towards the occurrence of any of the symptoms. On occurrence of the signs, timely consultation with a health professional will help you save your money, time and off-course your precious life. Though the word ‘breast’ and all the issues related to it are taboos of our society yet to save our lives we women have to struggle hard to break them. A breast oncology professional while talking about the disease in a seminar argued that “We all must stand united to break these social taboos and stigmas. It may take very long for us to discuss these issues openly and get optimum results”.

    Breast cancer can also be cured through healthy eating habits. Experts say that by consuming fruits and vegetables daily and adopting the habit of regular exercise can keep us away from this disease. Prof. Kulsoom Junaijo, surgeon at Qatar medical cooperation, suggested females especially young girls to take balance diet. She added that females should make fresh fruits and vegetables an important ingredient in their meals. Moreover she insisted females to take half an hour exercise which would help in reduction of carcinogenic cells. Research, studies and our religion itself have also proven that lactating mothers are at a considerably reduced risk of having breast cancer. Moreover, dry fruits specifically walnuts are very helpful in preventing breast cancer.

   Statistics show that yearly 900 billion dollars are spent on cancer treatment worldwide whereas over 1 thousand billion dollars are spent on anti-cancer campaigns worldwide. Specialists argue that if these amounts get increased it would become very easy to make campaigns more effective. Other than funds allocated, awareness among the people about this disease is also of great consideration. Today because of media, anti-cancer campaigns have reached masses. Awareness spreading seminars, workshops, meetings and public service messages have got prime time coverage which has made the campaign successful.

  Government of Pakistan should work in strong collaboration with the provincial governments to put an end to this ailment. Both the federation and the provinces must allocate certain percentages for cancer reduction campaigns. Government should run effective campaigns in both rural and urban areas to spread equal awareness among the nation about the disease. Special teams should be formed to work on the facilities provided by medical health institutions related to breast cancer. Government should appreciate research centers and institutions providing breast cancers treatment and should also help them to get recognized worldwide as well.

    It is not just non-profit organizations to work for cancer reduction campaigns, governments of all developing and under developed countries have to sit together to bring this form of cancer at an end. World health organization should play a positive role in this regards. Certain percentage must be allocated for cancer reduction campaigns in the budget of every fiscal year of every country. Without active participation and collaboration of the governments and world health organization, the beast of breast cancer could not be thrown out completely.

Syeda Sameen Sarwat