In 2022, Pakistan reported 25928 new cases of invasive breast cancer
PESHAWAR
The director curative of director health government services Dr Saeeda Bibi has said that breast cancer is the leading cause of death among women all over the world, saying one out of nine women are at risk of developing breast cancer in their life in Pakistan.
She added that the country has been ranked highest for the aliment in South Asia.
She expressed these views while addressing the participants of the awareness walk organized by director general health service KP.
“In developing countries and among South Asia Pakistan has the highest number of breast cancer cases, 25928 in 2020 while 01 out of 09 women are at risk of having breast cancer in their lifetime,” she added.
Additional Director General Dr Basit Saleem Khan, Director Curative Dr Saeeda Bibi, Deputy Director Curative Dr Abbass Khan and other health officers and staff participated in the walk.
Dr Saeeda shared that some developed countries have taken this issue very seriously and they have decreased the mortality rate because of the improved health system, awareness prevention through screening, early diagnosis and treatment of the disease.
There are 2.26 million new cases of breast cancer diagnosed worldwide in 2020 while in developing countries and among South Asia Pakistan has the highest number of cases 25,928 (14.5%) in 2020.
Factors like taboos, stereotypes, stigmas, misconceptions regarding women’s health and their bodies pose hurdles in the early screening and treatment of the cases in tertiary care hospitals in KP, which is not only dangerous for women but it causes death.
She further explained that this heavy burden of disease can be decreased through improvement of the health system and create awareness among the people.
She suggested that all women, especially those who are 40 or above or have a family history of breast cancer, must visit nearby health facilities for screening.
Deputy Director Curative DGHS-KP Dr Abbass Khan said that in Pakistan there are no dedicated screening centers established but the scattered facilities are available at government and private level.
He said that the provincial government has decided to extend breast cancer screening centres at divisional headquarters hospitals across the province.
The provincial health department has allocated funds PC-1 for expansion of mammography services underway, he added.
