Narayana Superspeciality Hospital here today launched the 'Door Blouse' campaign on the occasion of World Cancer Day to create awareness about Breast Cancer in women and its prevention.
The 'Door Blouse' campaign aims at self breast examination and highlights the method of the examination in a simple manner for early detection and prevention, R Venkatesh, Zonal Director (East) Narayana Health said.
Reminding the theme for World Cancer Day this year was "We can. I can", he said as a part of the campaign initiated by Narayana Superspeciality Hospital, the 'Door Blouse' was a simple sticker of the classic Indian blouse that would be placed on the door knob near ladies' washrooms in clinics and common places across the city to demonstrate the process for self breast-examination.
The simple steps of examination help in identifying and feeling for lumps and changes that could be signs of breast cancer.
Quoting the World Health Organization (WHO) estimate, Venkatesh said that over 2,00,000 lives in our country could be saved every year through early detection of breast cancer.
"Breast Cancer is the second most common cancer in India and also one of the most common causes of death. One in 22 women have breast cancer and it has been predicted that by 2020 it will be one in seven. Hence awareness and prevention have to be strong," he said.
"While worldwide nearly 17 lakh cases are diagnosed yearly, just in West Bengal the estimated cases to be recorded this year is more than 25,000," he said adding "Deaths from breast cancer are much higher in India than other countries only because of late presentation of the cases."
About 72 per cent of the patients in West Bengal start consulting the doctors at third stage. "This is mainly because of lack of knowledge and awareness, fear of being diagnosed with cancer, fear of biopsy, alternative treatment and wrong diagnosis by physicians," he said.
"People should be made aware about cancer. Social organizations and NGOs should also come forward and spread the message to remove the myths related to cancer. We have thus launched a Cancer Support Cell along with 'Hitaishini', a voluntary non-profit Breast Cancer Support Network, for the benefit of patients," Venkatesh said.
The Cell will help in motivating patients and boosting to cope up with the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. The cancer survivors would also come here together to share their experiences to help others manage the physical and emotional challenges, he added.
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