Be breast Cancer aware

Breast cancer is treatable and curable with early detection:

by Carol Aloysius

Cancer , one of the major Non Communicable Diseases in Sri Lanka is on a roll. The latest figures from the Cancer Registry show cancer incidence in the country rising from 31.6 in 1995 to 70.9 in 2006 per 1,000,000 population. Added to that, neoplasms ( the commonest among Lankan adults being breast cancer) has been cited as the second commonest cause of death of all hospital admissions in 2007.

Yet, breast cancer is also treatable, preventable and curable if detected early, a panel of specialists from the National Cancer Control Program and the National Cancer Institute at Maharagama stressed at a media briefing, Wednesday.

The occasion was the launch of the newly revised guide for Primary Care doctors and family physicians, originally published in 2012, in consultation with expertise from breast cancer experts.

The objective: to upgrade the knowledge of all primary health care medical officers on assessing females presenting with breast symptoms, and referring them for further management so as to detect cancer early, Director , National Cancer Control Program, Dr Neelamani Paranagama said.

The importance of early detection was reiterated by Deputy Director General Medical Services 1, Dr Lakshmi Somatunga, who observed in her message to the handbook, that over the past years despite increased incidence of breast cancer, the survival rate had improved, due largely to new technology and early detection. Director General Health Services, Dr P.G,.Mahipala , while agreeing that breast cancer was on the rise, noted that in Sri Lanka, women had access to many facilities where they could be screened and tested for cancer, early. “ Women are routinely screened for breast cancer by performing clinical breast examination at Well Woman clinics and educating women on breast self examination, as the current strategy is to detect cancer early”, he pointed out in his message.

“The trouble is, most women still don’t make enough use of these facilities and come to us when it is too late or the cancer has advanced to the late stages when it is difficult to treat. However, even late, if they come for treatment and adhere to the treatment procedure, their lives can be prolonged and they can enjoy a better quality of life”, Director, National Cancer Hospital, Maharagama, Dr Kanishka De Silva said.

Health Education Bureau Director Dr RFC Kanthi summarizing the messages for the month of October, which is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, said , “The most important message is ‘Be Breast Cancer Aware’. Whether you are in your twenties, thirties or older, the risk of breast cancer exists, especially, if a close relative has cancer.

Do breast self examinations regularly. They should be carried out by all women over 20 years, on a fixed date every month. They cost nothing and can be done at any place one chooses, whether lying down, sitting or standing, or while bathing.”

The national revised guidelines printed in pink with a pink ribbon, the colour and symbol associated with cancer globally, has been illustrated with sketches, photos and graphs, and includes referral pathways, recommendations, types of scans used for detection, and symptoms .

It also contains details for doctors, on the management of breast cancer at Tertiary Care level.

National Cancer Control Unit Co-ordinator Dr Suraj Perera said, several illustrated

leaflets and posters were also being distributed during this month to raise more awareness among the public, and appealed to the media to take the message of Breast awareness to the public.