Breast Cancer Awareness Should Be Raised As Soon As Possible

(CTN News) – Begum Samina Alvi, the first lady of Pakistan, stated on Sunday that almost 44,000 women die of breast cancer every year because of late diagnosis.

She emphasized that thousands of women and their families could be saved if the cancer was detected earlier on, with chances of survival reaching 98 percent if it was diagnosed at an early stage.

She regretted, however, that there were very few people in Pakistan who knew about the early symptoms of this disease and had no knowledge of how to detect them. Due to the fact that the disease spread silently as a result, it eventually proved fatal to its victims.

It was the first lady’s role to deliver the keynote address at the annual charity bazaar of the Pakistan Foreign Office Women’s Association (PFOWA).

It was in this spirit that the spouses of diplomats based in Islamabad organized stalls on the occasion to showcase their respective countries’ culture, cuisine, and artefacts.

It was reported by Begum Alvi that a comprehensive, inclusive, and nationwide breast cancer awareness campaign had been launched. Our biggest challenge was to convey our message to women living in far-flung parts of the country, as this was one of our biggest challenges.

The majority of cancer cases in Pakistan are being reported in their third or fourth stages, which not only makes the treatment painful and expensive but also reduces the chances of surviving in the long run.

In addition to this, screening facilities, such as mammography, ultrasound, and ultrasound machines, are either lacking in our country or very expensive, according to her.

According to her, these initiatives have immense importance, as they have the potential to save many lives, particularly when it comes to autism, children with disabilities, or early detection of breast cancer issues, and that they can have an immense impact on a wide range of people.

In terms of the progress being made in public awareness, Begum Alvi said they have reached out to millions of mobile users across Pakistan with ringback tones and messages, and this year, over 140 million SMS have been sent to mobile users in Pakistan on breast cancer.

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