Alarming rise in breast cancer

Disna Mudalige

Nearly 25 percent of newly detected women cancer patients have breast cancer, surveys have revealed, said National Cancer Control Programme consultant community Physician Dr Suraj Perera.

He observed that breast cancer incidents are increasing in Sri Lanka at an alarming rate. Dr. Perera said that the highest number of breast cancer incidents had been reported among the age group 40 to 65. According to area maps, many of the breast cancer patients are from urbanized areas.

He was addressing a ceremony in Colombo to launch a countrywide awareness programme on early detection of breast cancer parallel to the commencement of World Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October. He pointed out that 50 percent of breast cancer incidents in the country are identified at the late stage.

He observed that if diagnosed early, patients can be cured almost completely.

Speaking at the occasion oncological surgeon and senior consultant Dr Indrani Amarasinghe noted the importance of distributing mammogram machines to all general hospitals for early detection of breast cancer. She observed that a single mammogram machine costs over Rs 8 million and this service is limited only to highly urbanized areas such as Colombo, Kandy and Galle.

Speaking on 'Causative factors and prevention of breast cancers', Maharagama National Cancer Institute oncologist and senior consultant Dr Jayantha Balawardena identified that obesity, physical inactivity, western diets, alcohol, saturated animal fat, unnecessary exposure to radiation, family history and hormones and reproductive factors such as early puberty, menopause at old age, lack of children and lack of breast feeding are causative factors of breast cancer.

He also noted that fresh fruits and vegetables and high intake of fibre will reduce breast cancer threats.

Parliamentarian Malini Fonseka, Health Ministry Additional Secretary Dr Palitha Maheepala, WHO Country Representative Dr Firdosi Mehta, National Cancer Control Programme Director Dr Neelamani Paranagama and Prof Ryhana Raheem also spoke.