The event was themed “Brewing Awareness for Breast Cancer” to raise awareness about the importance of screening and the early detection of breast cancer which is the second most common cause of cancer deaths in Nepalese women. About one in eight women born today is exposed to the risk of getting breast cancer at some point during her lifetime.
Although October is designated as National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Janata Clinic is dedicated to raising awareness and educating individuals about breast cancer throughout the year. Around 30 individuals participated in the event where Dr. Udita Mishra, General Surgeon at Bir Hospital presented about breast cancer, its risk factors, and ways to remain safe. While the World Cancer Day was being celebrated with the theme “We Can. I Can.” Dr. Mishra emphasized that keeping oneself healthy and undergoing regular screening could be an individual approach to reduce the global burden of cancer.
Dr. Chadani Shrestha from Bhaktapur Cancer Hospital also attended the program and shared her experience of developing breast cancer and her fight to survive through all the treatment procedures. She encouraged all the participants to be aware and visit the screening facility regularly.
During the program, Ms. Abja Sapkota, Lecturer at Nepal Medical College presented her research findings on the problems that breast cancer survivors living in urban Nepal face. According to her, Nepalese breast cancer survivors were found to have multiple physical, psychological, and social problems and these problems are more prominent I women of age 45 years or above. She also stated tiredness, lack of energy, forgetfulness, lack of interest in sex, general body aches, and feeling of worrisome and anxiousness about future as the major symptoms seen in the survivors and said that require special attention during follow-up visits.
