FARZANA SYED / M PEERZADA
The Sher-I-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), Soura registers at least 300 cases of breast cancer each year and the incidences doctors say is going up, attributing the same to lack of awareness, knowledge and early screening among patients.
Doctors of the Medical Oncology, SKIMS, said each year 300 breast cancer cases are added at the regional cancer centre (RCC) at the institute. According to them the early detection of the disease plays a vital role in saving the life of a patient from the fatal disease.
The experts believe that one very major cause adjoining a surge in breast cancer is lack of awareness among the society that has stigmatized the disease since the women suffering from breast cancer themselves find it inappropriate to speak and discuss the disease with people.
The situation in the rural areas is worse where people hesitate to talk about breast cancer just because a female organ is involved in it .
Talking to Rising Kashmir the patients who have fought and survived the dreaded disease of breast cancer cited embarrassments and stigma associated with late detection and aggravation of breast cancer among women in the valley.
They revealed that Breast Cancer had become a significant matter of worry while it is still discussed among people with anxieties because of the taboo the society has associated with it. .
There is a major taboo against discussing breast cancer openly.
Dr Shaqul Qamar Wani, associate professor in the department of radiation oncology SKIMS says there is no single cause responsible for the development of breast cancer .
About myths associated with the disease, Wani said the only way to correct myths is to educate and make people aware of the disease, by conducting programs at schools, colleges and universities.
“Kashmir has the worst survivors from breast cancer where it has been seen that early detection and screening programs were the need of the hour”, she said.
Adding, “Our society is deeply rooted in myths about cancer. More pathetic is that there is a great deal of misinformation associated with it which kills the patients even before their death,” said a cancer patient from Srinagar.”
She said all breast cancers are not detected at late stages.
“Many are diagnosed at a locally advanced stage. The main reason is lack of awareness and screening in asymptomatic populations,” she said.
Doctors said due to the prevailing situation women suffering from the dreaded disease aren’t able to consult doctors on time which minimizes their chances of survival.
The doctors said breast cancer is a lifestyle disease claiming that 85 percent of cancers are cured at SKIMS.
As per doctors, health programs for women at the grassroots level including breast health awareness can help on early detection and awareness.
Sharing her experiences with the dreaded disease, Safeena ( name changed) a survivor of breast cancer said “Women, especially young, unmarried girls prefer not to speak if they have breast cancer. I, being a married woman, found it easy to share it safeena ( nith my husband when I found a small depression around the organ. I myself believe that I would not have shared this with anyone else. When I was receiving treatment for breast cancer I saw young girls who were at last stages because of delayed detection of the disease due to keeping it to themselves. Their families, their parents are also living a miserable life because of this”.
Adding, “ There is a fear of rejection. There is fear of getting tabooed in the society, there is reluctance to go for mammography or breast examinations. All these things need to be tackled and spoken about. There must be awareness regarding this disastrous trend which has rendered so many lives in miserable conditions.”
The stigma which has been associated with breast cancer has made the situation worse for the patients who suffer alone till it takes a drastic turn.
“ I was diagnosed with the disease before I got married. I was treated since it was in its initial stage however no one till date knows that I was suffering from breast cancer. I can never share this with my husband or In -laws because even now it can create issues in my life,” Berjees (name changed) another survivor told Rising Kashmir.
Khalid Mehraj, a Kashmir-based sociologist and writer says that there is a significant concern with the illness such as cancer is the social stigma.
“In our social set up girls are very reluctant to talk about it. Girls don’t feel it is easy to visit a doctor for a breast check-up. Girls here are very shy even when doing self-examination. Because There is a lack of knowledge and awareness about it,” he said.
Adding, “The Stigma and taboo attached to breast cancer are the main reasons for lower incidence of breast cancer survival among women. Kashmir valley is not an exception. The incidence of breast cancer is increasing alarmingly in the valley.”
Sociologists reveal that women suffering breast cancer don’t seek care or they don’t find it appropriate to share with any family member when they feel a lump in their breast. They are either unaware of what the lump means, or fear the stigma of rejection by their partner and community.
Dr Amir Iqbal Lone, gynaecologist J&K health department said every woman must go for a complete health check-up at least once a year.
“Those having family history have increased risk. Mutations in genes like BRCA1, BRCA2 and P53. Higher lifetime exposure to estrogens, like women having early menarche, late menopause, first childbirth after the age of 30 increase the risk, use of birth control pills, hormone replacement therapy also increase the risk slightly,” she said.
Doctors believe that there was a dire need for awareness, education about self examination and early detection so that the precious lives could be saved.
“ Self examination does play an important role in early detection of breast cancer. Early detection and Doctor’s examination clears all the obscurity and brings awareness about their body condition adding that this would also help women know whether they are affected by any ailments/infections,” Dr Amir said.
