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EXAMINATION-BREAST-CANCER (UNICEF FEATURE)
‘Self-examination technique turns godsend to check breast cancer’
DHAKA, Feb 05, 2019 (BSS/UNICEF FEATURE) – In this modern world, there are
a lot of ways to check or diagnose breast cancer, but in our country, self-
examination technique for women is the best way to detect this deadly
disease.
Tania Akhter, 37, experienced irregular menstruation for last six months.
She considered it normal and thought it would be okay within few days and did
not visit any doctor. At one stage, she felt a lump in her left breast
prompted her to visit a doctor. Consequently, she conducted necessary medical
test as per doctor’s suggestion, detecting breast cancer in its initial
stage, enabling her to take steps for treatment. Thus self examination
technique saved Tania’s life from any immense sufferings.
“Self-examination technique is the best way to identify breast cancer in
its early stage in our country though a lot of ways are used to diagnose it
all over the world,” Assistant Professor of Gynaecology and Obstetrics Dr
Sharmin Abbasi told BSS.
As the mammogram is expensive for the women in our country, the cancer
experts suggest taking up the task literally in their own hands, she added.
Breast self-examination (BSE) is a technique which allows an individual to
examine her breast tissue for any physical or visual changes. It is an early
detection method for breast cancer, Abbasi said.
She suggested applying of BSE technique at the end of monthly period of a
woman. “But the pregnant women who experiencing no period or the women who
experiencing irregular period can choose a specific day in every month to use
this technique,” she added.
“In this process, the woman has to press her breast properly and if she
feels any lumps or notice any other unusual changes, then she must have to
see a doctor,” Dr Abbasi also said.
A recent survey, carried out over 246 patients by the National Institute of
Cancer Research and Hospital’s medical oncology department, found social
taboos and unawareness were the main reasons for unchecked breast cancer and
delaying in early detection.
The study found that 65.5 per cent of breast cancer patients made their
diagnosis delay for more than six months, although 83 per cent of them found
lumps in their breast or had other symptoms of breast cancer.
Speaking to BSS, Clinical Oncology expert Professor Dr M Ehteshamul Hoque
blamed lack of awareness about the disease in preventing it in the early
stage.
“Our society does not encourage women to share such problems with their
friends and families. We should make sure that women know how to examine
themselves so that they can get treatment for the disease as soon as
possible,” Dr Hoque said.
He said thousands of lives could be saved by organizing awareness building
programmes like seminars, rallies, conferences and brain storming sessions
about the disease.
Even though breast cancer is one of the leading causes of death in
Bangladesh, many women are completely unaware of their illness because of
social stigma attached to sexual organs, he added.
World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer
(IARC) cites breast cancer as one of the top cancers affecting Bangladeshi
women and third on the list of cancers for both men and women in Bangladesh.
Around 12,764 new breast cancer patients are detected every year as the
number of deaths from breast cancer is 6,846, IARC said.
BSS/UNICEF FEATURE/DH/GMR/0918 hrs