Breast Cancer Awareness: Free Screening at FJDCH

"An individual doesn’t get cancer, a family does."

– Terry Tempest Williams

Cancer. A six lettered word- a disease, a probable death sentence, an end- that is what comes to one’s mind when the word is heard. And as the above quote states, cancer doesn’t affect the individual but also affects their loved ones, in different ways. In today’s post, I will be emphasizing on breast cancer, in commemoration of October being International Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer in women. 1 in 9 women is diagnosed of breast cancer in their lifetime.

What really is cancer, and how does it slowly kill a person?

Cancer is basically uncontrolled, unorganized multiplication of the cells of the body. These cells form their own mass. If this mass stays confined, the cancer is benign & safe to remove. If this mass is invasive, it breaks up and invades other parts of the body through blood, lymph and muscle planes- that is when the cancer gets dangerous or malignant.

What is breast cancer?

The breast mainly consists of fat, connective tissue, and many small glands that produce milk for breastfeeding, and ducts that carry the milk from the glands to the nipple. Cancer occurs when cells from any of these parts multiply uncontrollably. They may or may not invade the surrounding tissue.

Warning signs you should look out for.

These are some important signs you should look out for to aid in the diagnosis as early as possible.

 Breast Cancer In Pakistan- The Issue & The Taboo  ..

In Pakistan, more than 40,000 women die of breast cancer every year. The numbers are alarmingly high due to late diagnosis and poor education. In a country with mindsets that still consider women to be somewhat inferior, where it is a taboo to mention anything out of the norms and to even speak of sensitive topics, where a mildly sexual word will be answered with shaming glares- it is really important to create awareness of a disease that is annually killing thousands of women.

And that is why it is really important to educate and encourage our women to be aware of breast cancer, to overcome the fear of shame for the sake of their life and take the necessary steps to get diagnosed as early as possible.

Are you at risk of breast cancer?

Yes. 1 out of every 9 women is diagnosed of breast cancer in their lifetime. Among the Asian countries, Pakistan has the highest incidence of breast cancer.

  Free Breast Cancer Screening Program at FJDCH ..

On account of #BreastCancerAwarenessMonth, we, the students and faculty of Fatima Jinnah Dental College, Karachi, are organizing a free breast cancer screening program for everyone, facilitated by #PinkRibbonPK.

In addition to that, we are also having a bake sale on Friday, 3rd November 2017 (9:00AM to 12:30PM) to raise funds for PinkRibbonPK's campaign to build the first dedicated breast cancer hospital in Pakistan.

WHEN: 1st, 2nd, 3rd November, 2017 from 9:00AM to 2:00PM (free screening)

WHERE: Azam Town General Hospital, Azam Town, DHA Phase 1, Karachi. 2nd & 3rd floors.

WHO CAN COME: Everyone is welcome, free of charge.

Note that this is a free screening camp, so you can bring anyone, and as many ladies as you like.

Share this post, spread the word and invite all your loved ones to get a free breast screening, and you may help us in saving lives.

For more details on the PinkRibbonPK and its campaign visit their website here.