Health

Ceylinco Healthcare Centre launches Breast Care Unit

Early detection facilities combined with latest treatment techniques and counselling to offer holistic solution for breast care

An alarming increase in the incidence of breast cancer in Sri Lanka has prompted one private healthcare facility to set up a specialised Breast Care Unit in Colombo to offer primary, secondary and tertiary prevention, treatment and counselling.

Ceylinco Healthcare Services Ltd., (CHSL), which set up the Ceylinco Healthcare Centre, the country's first stand-alone cancer detection facility and subsequently established Sri Lanka's most advanced radiation treatment unit, has now created a dedicated Breast Care Unit at its Park Street, Colombo 2 complex, to encourage more women to undergo early screening.

Bringing together the expertise of a Breast Surgeon, Oncologist, Radiologist, Pathologist, Counsellor and a team of trained support staff, the Breast Care Unit will offer services ranging from history-based risk assessment to clinical examination, mammography, ultrasound investigation as well as multi-modal treatment options.

Addressing media at a news conference, Consultant Surgeon Dr. Panduka Jayasekara said a specialised unit of this nature, in a comfortable, private and non-hospital atmosphere was much felt need in efforts to reduce the incidence of and loss of life due to breast cancer in Sri Lanka, now the leading cause of death among women in the 40 to 55 years age group.

"One in 20 women in Sri Lanka is afflicted with breast cancer in her life time," Dr. Jayasekara said. "There has been an alarming increase in the incidence of breast cancer over the last 10 years, and this increase mirrors the trend seen in western countries."

Identifying genetics, environmental pollution, diet and lifestyle changes and long term oral contraceptive use as being among the leading causes of cancer, he stressed that the number of deaths from breast cancer in particular could be significantly reduced by convincing women in the vulnerable age groups to undergo periodic screening. "It has been established," Dr. Jayasekara disclosed, "that the five-year survival rate is very near 100 per cent in cases where breast cancer is detected very early." A breast health nurse would be available for visitors to discuss any concerns and to ensure their comfort.

Are we educated on balanced nutrition?

It goes without saying that food is the mainstay of man's existence. Before the advent of modern science, people just ate to fill their bellies but they were not interested in the nutrition values of the food they took. But, the situation has changed now.

Man has now understood the importance of balanced nutrition to maintain physical strength and good health. I read the article on balanced nutrition in your newspaper a few days back with interest. I believe that our society should be always reminded of the importance of balanced nutrition. The children are educated in balanced nutrition in school, but it is very important for the women in our society, especially mothers, to be educated in balanced nutrition.

The meal of a child is prepared by the mother. That alone stresses the importance of educating the mothers on balanced nutrition. If you take into account the way most mothers prepare the meals for their school going children, then you begin to doubt whether the mothers have any understanding about balanced nutrition. I make this statement on the basis of years of experience spent with school children as a school teacher.

Mothers face many problems in providing a meal with nutrients (Carbohydrate, Fat, Protein, Vitamins, Minerals and Water) to their school going children. Packing a child's lunch box with pulses like Mung Beans, Chick Peas and Cow Peas do not often serve their purpose, as many children do not like to eat such food at school. And, with the high prices of such food items, it is not easy for a mother to provide a balanced meal to her child. In the past, it did not cost much for a child of a poor family to eat a slice of bread spread with margarine, but the high cost of bread at present makes it not so easy for the child's parents.

As adults, we should prepare food for our children making it attractive and appetising for them, with balanced nutrition. Your newspaper, and all other media, has a duty towards the society. The media should educate the society how to preparing balanced, economical and appetising meals, especially aimed at children. That is a certain way of providing solutions to many nutritional problems like malnutrition and low birth weight we are faced with today.

Chandrakanthi Mayadunne, Nuwara Eliya