70,000 deaths getting reported every year, a woman succumbs to breast cancer every ten minutes in the country
Jaslok Hospital and Research Centre concluded an evening that saluted the breast cancer survivors on 25th October at Jaslok Hospital, Peddar Road.
The evening started with Mr Jitendra Haryan, CEO, Jaslok Hospital and Research Centre encouraging the survivors by sharing insights that the cancer is curable, followed by a panel discussion.
Some of the panellist were leading experts like Ex Inspector General Police V C Pawar; popular theatre artist and Vice President, Women’s Cancer Initiative Devika Bhojwani, CEO of Ketto, Varun Sheth; Veteran Journalist and President of Mumbai Press Club Gurbir Singh and Padmashri award winner Dr Suresh Advani were a part of the panel discussion. Dr Reetu Jain, Medical Oncologist, Jaslok Hospital and Research Centre delivered the key note speech and spoke about the recent statistics of breast cancer.Shaina NC was the Chief Guest at the event.
In India, over 1, 50,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer every year -a staggering number that has overtaken cervical cancer to become the most common cancer affecting women. With 70,000 deaths getting reported every year, a woman succumbs to breast cancer every ten minutes in the country. Due to a lack of awareness (even in metro cities), the absence of a nationwide, population-based breast cancer screening programme and more than 60 per cent of breast cancers getting detected at an advanced stage, most cancer patients succumb to the disease within a year of getting diagnosed.
Jitendra Haryan, CEO of Jaslok Hospital and Research Centre said,“We want to see a smile on every patient that gets treated at Jaslok Hospital. A sign of relief should be felt by patients that get treated here. Our main aim is to identify the problem in time and getting the patient cured of it completely. There are several myths surrounding breast cancer, which makes it tough to beat the disease. We want to break those myths and help the women in leading a happy life.”
Shaina NC said, ”I would love to thank Jaslok Hospital for inviting me and helping me contribute my thoughts as well on this great occasion of spreading awareness. Breast cancer is something which women feel shy in speaking about, but the truth is that if they do not speak about it, it could become very dangerous. People should support such causes and each individual should spread awareness on the same. It gives me immense joy in meeting the women who never gave up.”
Vice President, Women’s Cancer Initiative Devika Bhojwani said, ”I was very pleased to be a part of the event conducted by Jaslok Hospital on spreading awareness on early detection of breast cancer. We are all aware that breast cancer is rising in the metropolitan cities of India and events like these help to focus on the need of the hour that a breast cancer caught early is curable. I’m very happy to see large organizations like Jaslok Hospital are organizing such initiatives. I have also noticed that during the month of October Jaslok is offering a solo mammography at a rock bottom price of 999₹ and that should be a great incentive for women who haven’t done their mammography yet.
Padmashri award winner Dr Suresh Advani said, “I would like to conclude this evening by thanking each and every one of you present here to encourage the women and to make them feel that nothing is impossible. It is important for everyone to know the symptoms of such a disease and that such a disease can be treated well if detected at the right time. I would also like to encourage each and every women here to never lose hope.”