Free breast cancer awareness, screening in Dhaka

A month-long breast cancer awareness and screening campaign has begun in Dhaka.

The National Institute of Cancer Research and Hospital (NICRH) and Bangladesh Breast Cancer Awareness Forum jointly launched the campaign on Wednesday at the hospital in Mohakhali.

It coincides with the global observance of the Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October, an annual campaign to increase awareness of the disease.

Breast cancer is the leading cancer among women in Bangladesh.

The NICRH registry analysis shows the trend is increasing with 26 percent of their women patients between 2008 and 2010 suffering from breast cancer, followed by 21 percent who are afflicted by cervical cancer.

Globally breast cancer is the most prevalent form of cancer afflicting women, but in Bangladesh, more women were previously suffering from cervical cancer.

Delayed marriage, tendency to take babies lately and not to breastfeed children were some of the risk factors of breast cancer.

Dr Md Habibullah Talukder, head of the epidemiology department of the NICRH, said they set up a special screening team for this month.

Any woman who suspects breast cancer can screen it out this month for free, he said.

Dr Talukder said they would also organise discussions, campaigns at schools, and a road show in Dhaka this month.

They will observe Oct 10 as ‘Breast Cancer Awareness Day’ in Bangladesh for the second time