Breast Cancer Awareness Month 2024 wrapped up on Thursday, marked by multiple awareness programs at universities across Pakistan, aimed at breaking stigmas and promoting early detection of the disease, which claims around 40,000 lives annually and affects nearly 90,000 more women nationwide.

At a recent conference, the Vice Chancellor of Jinnah Sindh Medical University (JSMU) Prof. Amjad Siraj Memon stressed the importance of awareness in combating cancer.

“Early detection and awareness are crucial in the fight against breast cancer,” he noted.

The conference was a joint initiative by JSMU, Continuing Medical Education (CME), Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC), and the Pakistan Islamic Medical Association (PIMA), which sought to equip women with the knowledge to pursue timely medical care.

At a separate conference, Dow Medical College Principal Prof. Saba Sohail highlighted that Pakistan has the highest breast cancer rate in Asia.

She noted that most cases are diagnosed at later stages due to widespread avoidance of screening.

Research presented at the symposium revealed misconceptions among the Pakistani public – over 63 percent mistakenly believe mammography or biopsy could cause cancer, while nearly 39 percent attribute the disease to superstitions such as the evil eye.

“Over 75 percent of women affected by breast cancer do not have a family history of the disease,” she added.

Civil Hospital Karachi’s Dr. Raja Rahul reported that of the 5,051 cancer patients registered at the hospital between 2020 and 2024, 34 percent were breast cancer cases, underscoring the surge in the cases.

“In 2024 alone, 731 cancer patients were registered, including 140 cases of breast cancer,” he said.

Meanwhile, Ziauddin University concluded its awareness efforts with a poster competition, showcasing creative contributions from over 200 students. Winners included Marya Darugar (first place), Hudabiya Naaz (second place), and Kashaf Diam (third place) from various colleges within the university.