35,000 women die of breast cancer a year

National Professor Dr M R Khan releases a poster containing a slogan 'Breast cancer can be completely cured' at a function at the auditorium of Dhaka Ahsania Mission (DAM) in the city yesterday

National Professor Dr M R Khan released the four-colour attractive poster containing a slogan 'Breast cancer can be completely cured' along with some simple awareness messages at a function at the auditorium of Dhaka Ahsania Mission (DAM) Bhaban in the city.

Speaking as chief guest, Dr M R Khan said 35 thousand women die of breast cancer every year in the country and around 1.20 lakh women have been suffering from breast cancer but the tendency to keep the disease a secret allows the cancer to spread where it is curable if detected at early stage.

He said there should be elaborate arrangements to create awareness as well as facilities for early detection and primary treatment of the disease.

Pointing to the problem of rural women's shyness in visiting male physicians, Dr Khan suggested appointment of more female physicians in rural areas.

Presiding over the function, DAM President Kazi Rafiqul Alam said AMCH has been observing the month through various activities such as press conference, human chain, roundtable, awareness campaigns in girls' schools, colleges and university halls as well as at its own mass centres at grassroots level.

Rafiqul Alam said a 7-member team of AMCH led by him will meet the health minister today to submit a representation urging the government to create special facilities for breast cancer detection and treatment in the country.

AMCH Director Prof Md Abdul Hye said awareness is very crucial as most of the breast cancer patients come to the doctors very late.

Ex-health secretary and Managing Director of the mission M Fazlur Rahman and Public Relations Director Prof Nurul Islam also spoke at the function.