Like other parts of the globe, "World Cancer Day 2015" is being observed here on February 4, with a resolve to continue the fight against cancer by raising awareness through promoting healthy lifestyle, ensuring early detection of disease and achieving treatment for all.
The day is a unique opportunity to raise awareness that there is much that can be done at community and governmental level, to harness and mobilise these solutions and catalyse positive change. By moving forward together we have the potential to show: Cancer. "It is not beyond us."
In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumours, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the body through the lymphatic system or bloodstream. Not all tumours are cancerous. Significantly, the number of cancer cases and related deaths world-wide is estimated to double over the next 20 to 40 years. To mark the day, different health organisations have chalked out programme by holding seminars, walks and other scientific sessions.
Around 80 percent women are vulnerable to cervical cancer as they can be infected by the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) that causes cervical cancer at some point in their lives. As per WHO, Pakistan has already made it to top 10 countries with highest number of cervical Cancer deaths, killing around 20 women every day.
Professor Maryam Malik, Head Obstetrics and Gynaecology department at Fatima Jinnah Medical College said that cervical cancer is not hereditary. It is caused by a common and easily transmissible virus, called the Human Papillomavirus (HPV). An initiative for cervical cancer on World Cancer Day would be helpful in raising awareness amongst women. "It will alert them about the risk factors they may be vulnerable to and will play a significant role in reducing the burden of this disease in Pakistan," she added.
She said, "It's high time we need to take serious actions to protect our girls and women from this silent killer." "Vaccination against cervical cancer is the primary means of prevention while getting the vaccines as early as possible will protect them in future," said Dr Naeem Zafar, Associate Professor and Vice President Pakistan Pediatric Association.
He said that a major setback is that physicians/ pediatricians are not consulted for the prevention of this cancer. Cervical cancer does not show any sign or symptoms in the beginning and by the time it is diagnosed it is already very late, he mentioned. He said vaccination along with screening can reduce the incidence of cervical cancer by 94 percent and the screening should be continued even after vaccination. Cervical cancer has the highest incidence in women aged 30-35 years and greater than 60 percent of cases affecting women under 50 years old.
"It is unfortunate that countries like Pakistan, do not have exact estimates of the prevalence of cervical cancer and screening for HPV infection is not a common practice in Pakistan due to lack of awareness amongst people," leading stylist and women rights activist Musarat Misbah said.
She said that it is very unfortunate that our women spend huge sum of money on grooming and shopping but when it comes to health they don't bother to take preventive measures which are more important for their long term wellbeing. World Health Organisation (WHO) projected that by 2030, almost half a million women will die of cervical cancer, with over 98 percent of these deaths expected to occur in low and middle-income countries such as Pakistan.
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