ISLAMABAD, Oct 01 (APP):First Lady Bibi Asifa Bhutto Zardari on Thursday urged women to take breast health seriously and seek medical advice if they notice any unusual changes. She said breast cancer is treatable and curable, and that early diagnosis and timely treatment can save lives. In her message on the commencement of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, she said the month provides an opportunity to remind women that looking after …
First Lady urges women to prioritise early detection of breast cancer
ISLAMABAD, Oct 01 (APP):First Lady Bibi Asifa Bhutto Zardari on Thursday urged women to take breast health seriously and seek medical advice if they notice any unusual changes.
She said breast cancer is treatable and curable, and that early diagnosis and timely treatment can save lives.
In her message on the commencement of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, she said the month provides an opportunity to remind women that looking after their health also means knowing their bodies and taking action when something does not feel right. Regular self-examination can help women become familiar with normal changes in their bodies and recognise when they need to seek medical advice.
The first lady said women over 50 should consider regular mammograms at facilities that offer screening services. She also pointed out that more than 90 per cent of breast cancer cases are self-detected among those who do not undergo regular mammography screening, making awareness of body changes particularly important.
The first lady said what is most concerning is that many women, particularly in rural areas and low-income households, still reach doctors too late. Sometimes it is because of lack of awareness, sometimes because medical facilities are too far away and sometimes because the cost of diagnosis and treatment feels beyond reach.
She said no woman should lose her chance of survival simply because she is poor, lives far from a major city or is afraid to seek help. Our government institutions and civil society must do more to ensure that every woman has access to the health education, screening and care she needs.
The Sindh government has taken several steps to make breast cancer screening and treatment more accessible, including free mammography and diagnostic services at public-sector hospitals and cancer treatment units at Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre and Dr Ruth K.M. Pfau Civil Hospital Karachi, she added.
She called on women of all ages to make breast self-examination a regular part of their healthcare routine and stressed the importance of recognising the early signs of breast cancer and seeking care without delay.
