The Pink Ribbon National Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign held a ceremony on Friday 30th September, 2011 to remember 40,000 women dying every year of breast cancer in Pakistan.
Pakistan has the highest rate of breast cancer for any Asian population accounting to 40,000 deaths every year. The available human resource in the health sector in Pakistan is quite low as it shows a ratio of 1,254 people per doctor and 2,671 per nurse. Despite these horrible statistics the Government of Pakistan has allocated only 0.57% GDP for the health sector whereas it is 4.7% for the rest of the South Asian countries.
Statistics show that out 90,000 breast cancer patients in Pakistan, 40,000 die every year. This means that the probability of dying is highest if you develop breast cancer in Pakistan. In India, 1 out of every 22 women have breast cancer while in Pakistan 1 out of every 9 women has breast cancer.
The cause of breast cancer In Western countries is obesity but to find out the cause in Asian countries, proper investigation should be carried out. Hereditary reasons are more likely to be a reason for it in Pakistan rather than lifestyle of women.
Men can also develop breast cancer although it is less likely in men. Women should start proper check up at the age of 40 to detect it at early stages. In Pakistan it is usually detected at level 3 or 4.
In the prevailing scenario it is important to focus on prevention rather than cure because if it is detected at an early stage the chances of survival are up to 90%.
Misconceptions:
1. Only older women can develop breast cancer.
2. Breast cancer only runs in the family.
3. Breast feeding increases the chance of breast cancer.
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