Over 15,000 cancer patients identified yearly

A total of 15,000 cancer patients are identified in Sri Lanka a year, of which 24 percent are women with breast cancer, Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena said.

Addressing a ceremony to mark the commissioning of the Mammography Machine at the Cancer Early Detection Centre yesterday, the Minister said that a large number of women suffer from breast cancer and most are between the ages of 25 and 45. "Most women are unaware of the danger of breast cancer," he said.

The Mammography Machine and Film Processor was donated by the Rotary Club of Colombo and Rotary Club of Birmingham,Alabama,USA to the National Cancer Control Program at the Cancer Early Detection Centre yesterday.

As a developing country we have to pay a large sum of money to the health sector. Therefore this donation must be appreciated, said Health Minister.

Colombo Rotary Club Project Chairperson Nirmali Samarathunga, President Senake Amarasinghe and National Cancer Program Director N Paranagama also participated at the ceremony.