Public engagement is needed to raise awareness across the country for preventing breast cancer, a menace that kills thousands in Bangladesh, speakers said on Monday.
They also urged women to be cautious about regular screening to identify whether they have any symptoms of the disease.
They came up with the remarks at a roundtable discussion, organised by Bangladesh Breast Cancer Awareness Forum (BBCAF) and 35 other organisations, at the Jatiya Press Club, marking the 10th National Breast Cancer Awareness Day.
Dr Md Habibullah Talukdar Ruskin, the convener of the forum, said 80 percent of women are not aware of the disease, and the remaining 20 percent of women who are aware do not do screening accordingly.
According to a report of the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), around 12,764 women are affected by breast cancer and 6,844 of them die of the disease in Bangladesh every year.
“The number is on the rise. But the affected women remain silent due to shyness. As a result, they don’t get proper treatment,” said Dr Habibullah.
Screenings and check-ups need to be increased to prevent the disease. If diagnosed in the early stage, a patient can fully recover from the disease, said Dr Abu Jamil Faisel.
However, diagnosed with the disease in the early stage, many women are deprived of proper treatment due to high expenses.
Farid Hossain, Editor of the country’s leading news agency United News of Bangladesh (UNB), in his remark as a special guest at the event said that awareness is the key to fighting the disease as many social taboos prevent the people, especially the women, from coming forward for screenings and treatment.
Former World Health Organization (WHO) Southeast Asian region advisor Professor Mozaherul Haque urged the government to bring poor and marginal cancer patients under proper treatment through an effective functional reference system.
Professor Swapan Kumar Bandyopadhyay, Director of the National Cancer Research Institute and Hospital, urged the Education Ministry to take preventive measures by building awareness of breast cancer at the school level.
Ten journalists were also recognised at the event for their contribution to breast cancer awareness through their articles.
Earlier, awareness campaigners rallied in front of the National Museum at Shahbagh.
Former chairperson of National Human Rights Commission Nasima Begum, Prof Shubhagata Chowdhury, BSMMU Pro-Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Saif Uddin Ahmed also spoke at the programme among others.
Source: United News of Bangladesh