Expressing concern over the ongoing efforts to raise awareness and prevent breast cancer among women globally, experts participating in a webinar organized by ComSats said that out of about 90,000 newly diagnosed cases in Pakistan, 40,000 women die every year. I go, Pakistani women have the highest rate of breast cancer in Asia, and one out of every 10 women here is at risk.
According to the researchers, the chances of the patient recovering at the first stage are very bright, but when the severity of the disease enters the fourth, that is, the last stage, then it becomes difficult to save the life of global populations and the south-south region. The theme of this webinar by the Commission for Sustainable Development of Science and Technology (COMSETS) was "Breast Cancer Awareness, Give Hope, Save Lives", highlighting this important health issue. The Islamabad-based Comsats Secretariat has played a key role in the global awareness campaign against the disease, but experts and other participants took part in the webinar online because of the 19 concerns.
Speaking on the occasion, Ms. Fauzia Nasreen, Advisor (Retired Ambassador), Comsats, emphasized the need to take necessary steps to overcome the lack of knowledge, inadequate facilities, lack of support at the family level, and the fear of cancer in Pakistani society. "Early diagnosis, access to adequate medical care, and timely care are important and fundamental principles of cancer control," he said. Dr. Samina Naeem, a former Associate Professor at the Academy of Health Services and a consultant at WHO Pakistan, presented a comprehensive overview of breast cancer and the importance of overcoming stereotypes and justifications in society regarding this contagious disease. Dr. Fauzia Cheema shared her personal experience of fighting breast cancer from the perspective of a doctor who is facing this deadly disease.
"I had an educational background and I had questions about the treatment and health system and other social and psychological aspects," he said. He presented an objective review of the disease. In his keynote address, Dr. Farheen Raza, Department of Radiology, PIMS Hospital, Islamabad, gave a keynote address at WebNar, emphasizing the need to focus on controlling the stigma associated with social ills and gynecological diseases. There is an urgent need for community-based health education, including group discussions.
He informed the participants that the Federal Breast Cancer Screening Center (FBCSC) is the first public center of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) to offer free screening (mammography) facilities to women belonging to the working class. Is. He proposed a Breast Cancer Clinic based on a complete and comprehensive diagnosis of the disease, where the financial, cultural, mental, and physical needs of the sick women could be addressed under one roof with all the other treatment facilities. Immediate solutions must also be provided.
Dr. Azmi Farid, Principal Medical Officer, Comsats Headquarters, and Sessions Coordinator, opined that there is a need for an awareness campaign against the disease not only among women but also among men as they are a part of the family. Their role in the recovery journey should be the same. As part of the pioneering team of telehealth services in Pakistan, he hoped that telemedicine training would be introduced for medical practitioners in remote areas of the country to help solve the problem across the country.
At the end of the webinar, all participants agreed that many of the causes of breast cancer include women not breastfeeding their babies, unbalanced diet, avoiding exercise, late marriages, and unhealthy lifestyles. Is. Women should see a doctor every year for a clinical breast examination, especially for women over 40 years of age.
