Early detection prevents breast cancer deaths
Early detection may eliminate death risks in many cases of breast cancer, and women should regularly run self-exams to avoid the disease, speakers said at a programme yesterday.
Raising awareness is a must, and screening tests are necessary for women, especially after the age of 40, they said at a programme titled “Early Detection Saves Life”.
Soroptimist International Club of Dhaka in association with Apollo Hospitals Dhaka and School of Public Health of Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB) organised it on the university campus, marking International Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Breast cancer is curable if detected early, said Dr SMG Kibria, senior consultant of general, laparoscopic and vascular surgery, Apollo Hospitals Dhaka. “The disease is considered a taboo in our society, so women are reluctant to talk about it,” he said, urging women to examine their breasts every month and get a screening test once a year.
A woman runs a higher risk if her sister, aunt or mother suffers from the disease, said Dr Kibria said, adding that men can also fall victim to breast cancer.
In a presentation, the physician said women who did not have any children or have had children late can have breast cancer. Obesity is another cause, he added. If a woman detects any lump in the breast during self-examination, she should immediately go for a clinical check-up, he said.
IUB Vice-Chancellor Prof M Omar Rahman said there are many tutorials on YouTube and the internet on how to conduct a self-examination; so girls should look at those instructions and protect themselves.
Ishrat Jahan, a survivor, who was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 39, said she had to have her left breast removed.
“The treatment was a battle for life,” she said. She, however, asked women to have a positive attitude to face the challenges of the disease.
President of Soroptimist International Club of Dhaka Dr Dilara Chowdhury urged women and girls to invest in education and stay informed. “You should disseminate the information to underprivileged women,” she said.
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