Samina Alvi calls for year-round breast cancer awareness campaign

Begum Samina Alvi, former first lady of Pakistan, has called for a mass awareness campaign at the neighbourhood level to encourage Pakistani women to regularly conduct self-examination for the detection of early symptoms of breast cancer. This initiative aims to combat Pakistan having the highest incidence rate of breast cancer in Asia.

Begum Alvi made this suggestion as the chief guest at a seminar on ‘Breast Cancer Prevention and Wellness’, organised by the National Forum for Environment and Health (NFEH) in connection with the International Day Against Breast Cancer, commemorated annually on October 19.

During her address, Begum Alvi highlighted that mammogram screening is prohibitively expensive for many women from low- and middle-income families. She noted that Pakistan suffers from a significant shortage of specialised public healthcare facilities offering mammography, making self-examination the first and most effective line of defence against breast cancer for Pakistani women.

She emphasised that the proposed neighbourhood-level campaign should be sustained throughout the year, rather than being confined to October, which is globally recognised as Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

She asserted that breast cancer should not be regarded as a taboo subject; instead, it should be treated as a serious medical issue, with early detection being crucial for safeguarding the health of Pakistani women on a large scale.

She also stressed the importance of providing psychological counselling for emotional support and comprehensive rehabilitation for cancer patients and survivors. Furthermore, she suggested that male members of society be educated about this deadly disease to help protect the women in their families through early diagnosis and treatment.

“A mass collective effort is required to combat the alarming rise of breast cancer, with up to 100,000 new cases detected in Pakistan each year.”

Begum Alvi reiterated her commitment to enhancing specialised healthcare and rehabilitation facilities in Pakistan for cancer patients, individuals with disabilities, and those suffering from mental health issues.

Dr Bushra Maham from the Shaukat Khanum Cancer Hospital and Research Centre informed the audience that developed countries in the West have been less affected by breast cancer due to better diagnostic and treatment facilities that are readily accessible to patients.

She revealed that 22 per cent of the patients treated at the Shaukat Khanum Hospital are diagnosed with breast cancer, the highest proportion of any cancer treated at the facility.

She urged women over 40 to undergo mammogram screening annually to detect cancerous cells, as older women in Pakistan are at a higher risk of developing breast cancer.

Dr Zubala Yasir Lutfi, an assistant professor at the Food Science and Technology Department of the University of Karachi, said that a healthy diet and lifestyle can protect urban women from cancerous diseases. She advised cancer patients to avoid sugar in their daily diets to reduce the chances of cancer cell regrowth.

Ruth Zia, a lecturer at the College of Nursing of the Sindh Government Hospital, emphasised that exercise should be an integral part of women’s daily routines to maintain their health and fitness.

Afia Salam, a senior journalist and breast cancer survivor, asserted that Pakistani women should have complete autonomy to make emergency health decisions, without male dominance in such situations. She recommended that women with a family history of cancerous diseases seek genetic testing for early detection of breast cancer.

NFEH General Secretary Ruqiya Naeem urged the government to significantly enhance breast cancer diagnosis and treatment facilities, particularly at major public hospitals, in the light of the alarming spread of this fatal disease in Pakistan.

At the event, a special memento was presented to Begum Alvi in recognition of her long-standing efforts to raise awareness about breast cancer, mental health issues, and the rehabilitation of individuals with disabilities in Pakistan.