Women urged to practise self-check-up to detect breast cancer

Islamabad: In a recent awareness seminar held at Behbud Association of Pakistan, Rawalpindi, Begum Samina Alvi, the wife of the President of Pakistan, made a heartfelt plea to women across the nation. She emphasized the significance of a simple five-minute self-examination each month as a powerful tool to detect breast cancer at an early stage, potentially savingthousands of lives.

Begum Samina Alvi expressed concern over the alarming statistics of breast cancer-related deaths in Pakistan, with a staggering 44,000 reported cases. She stressed that raising constant awareness about early diagnosis is crucial in addressing this critical issue.

During the seminar, Begum Samina Alvi urged the general public to overcome the taboos surrounding breast cancer. She pointed out that while the world has a 98 percent recovery rate from breast cancer, the situation in Pakistan is hindered by insufficient mammographic facilities, leading to late-stage detection and high mortality rates.

Furthermore, she highlighted the unsettling fact that breast cancer is affecting women of all ages, including teenage girls as young as 12-14 years. To combat this, she called upon women and girls to learn the five-minute self-examination routine and encourage at least 20 other women in their circles to do the same.

In a generous gesture, Begum Samina Alvi announced a donation of Rs500,000 on behalf of her family to the Behbud Mother and Child Hospital, which is dedicated to supporting women and children in need.

Begum Samina Alvi also underlined the importance of inclusivity for individuals with disabilities, mental health, and creating a harassment-free environment for women. She advocated for accommodating differently-abled individuals with access to education and employment opportunities to ensure their full integration into society.

Lt Gen (r) Nigar Johar, the country's first three-star woman general in the Pakistan Army, stressed the urgency of addressing breast cancer mortality. She mentioned that one in eight women worldwide dies of breast cancer and highlighted Pakistan's commitment to reducing breast cancer mortality by 25 per cent, aligning with the global health goal of the World Health Organization.

The seminar featured a panel discussion involving doctors, psychologists, and a breast cancer survivor. They emphasized the importance of early diagnosis and discussed the challenges of mental trauma faced by patients and their families.

Begum Samina Alvi's advocacy for breast cancer awareness and early detection serves as a powerful reminder of the critical role individuals and communities can play in tackling this widespread health issue in Pakistan.