Call for collective efforts to cut deaths from breast cancer

Islamabad: President Asif Ali Zardari on Friday called for public awareness and collective efforts at individual and national levels to reduce deaths from breast cancer in Pakistan.

In a message on the International Day Against Breast Cancer marked today (Saturday), the president said that breast cancer was not only the most frequently diagnosed cancer but was also the leading cause of death among women in low and middle-income countries.

"The incidence of breast cancer is more common in South Asian countries, majorly due to a lack of breast cancer awareness in women. In our country, one in every nine women is at risk of breast cancer and the late diagnosis of the disease considerably contributes to the high mortality rate. Moreover, economic obstacles deter many from receiving the required treatment," he said.

The president stressed the need for raising public awareness about the disease by addressing misconceptions and prioritising healthy lifestyle adjustments. He said that Pakistan needed the broader level efforts to educate women about breast cancer, regular self-examination and mammographic screening.

The president urged the policymakers and health officials to plan and prioritise disease control activities, including improved treatment and individual patient care. He called for women's access to screening and early detection services which were critical in detecting breast cancer early and saving lives. The president also urged print, electronic and social media to educate people about breast cancer to save thousands of lives.