The rates of Breast cancer patients are rising globally, including in Pakistan. According to the World Health Organization, one out of every six deaths worldwide is due to breast cancer, it is the third leading cause of death after heart and lung diseases. While the statistics regarding breast cancer cases in Pakistan are very worrying and breast cancer in our country has become the second leading cause of death for women.
The month of October is being celebrated in Pakistan for raising awareness about breast cancer. Efforts are being made to prevent breast cancer in Pakistan as well. In this regard, MM news spoke to Dr. Rufina Soomro, Breast Cancer Surgeon at Liaquat National Hospital.
MM: How common is breast cancer in Pakistan?
Rufina Soomro: We do not have a national tumor registry, but according to the figure, out of nine women, at least one woman suffers from breast cancer in Pakistan and this figure is more or less related to the West. Unfortunately, if we talk about Asian countries, then our country is leading with the majority of breast cancer cases.
MM: Why has breast cancer become so common in Pakistan?
Rufina Soomro: It became common gradually, there is no specific reason behind it, some people are at increased risk, few factors include early periods, late pregnancy, old age, obesity, menopause, and genetics and most important is the consumption of contraceptive pills on regular basis.
MM: What are the basic steps of self-examining to know whether we are suffering from breast cancer?
Rufina Soomro: Most of the people I interact with share that they are not doctors so how can they examine on their own. Well, it is an easy procedure, you can easily examine yourself once a month. Check yourself right after the menopause, as soon as your menstrual cycle ends, designate a date so one can remember easily to self examine.
MM: What difference should you note while self examing at home?
Rufina Soomro: The main important difference you should note is the size of both breasts, are they equal? They should be of equal shapes, flaky skin in the nipple area or the breast, the appearance of any kind of a rash in that specific area, a nipple discharge other than breast milk including blood, lump in the breast or underarm, and pulling in of the nipple or pain in the nipple area.
MM: What happens when one has almost all the signs of breast cancer?
Rufina Soomro: One should have to go through expert opinions, even if doctors claim that a woman is suffering from the disease then it is still not 100 percent accurate in a breast cancer situation. One would have a screening of mammography. Now mammographic findings may require a biopsy for diagnosis confirmation that she is suffering from breast cancer or not.
MM: How important is biopsy in treating breast cancer?
Rufina Soomro: Biopsy plays a major role, it confirms what type of cancer it is, how much it has spread, can it be treated with medicines or not, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and surgery, these are the types of treatment of cancer; which are only determined through biopsy.
MM: Can surgeries and needle cause cancer to spread?
Rufina Soomro: No its a myth. please never believe such stories.
MM: Can breast cancer survivors breastfeed their infants?
Rufina Soomro: Yes, it possible that survivors can breastfeed their infants. The breast which was affected and went through surgery cannot be used for breastfeeding but, the survivor can use the other to breastfeed their infants.
MM: Breast cancer is still a social taboo. How accurate is that?
Rufina Soomro: About 20 years ago I was not allowed to publish a documentary about breast cancer as it contained the word ‘breast’. However, now, Pakistan has become progressive as compared to the past. We belong to such a society where a girl is hesitant to share such information with her mother or sister, but by the passage of time, people have started taking this as a sensitive issue and discuss with each other.
MM: Does lifestyle play a role in the risk of developing breast cancer?
Rufina Soomro: Changing lifestyle is very important for both breast cancer patients and for those who want to delay the risk of developing one. We all are at high risk if we don’t change our lifestyle. By brisk walking, quitting smoking, and alcohol, avoiding processed food one can delay the risk of developing a breast cancer.
