Breast cancer awareness programs

The Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus and the Health Ministry  has taken an important step to promote early detection of breast cancer, one of the most commonly reported cancers among women in Sri Lanka and raise public awareness in this regard. The countrywide special national program will be held on 2 November.

This is indeed a timely move and deserves all the support of the medical fraternity and international organisations working in the health sector.

According to the Health Ministry, approximately 6,000 new cases of breast cancer are reported in Sri Lanka annually, while around 1,000 women die from the disease each year. Although breast cancer can be completely cured when detected at an early stage, delays in seeking treatment due to fear, embarrassment or a lack of awareness remain a major challenge. Breast Cancer cannot be dismissed as a disease affecting  elderly women. One third of diagnosed breast cancer patients in Sri Lanka were below 50 years of age.

Being almost an exclusive condition affecting women, the kind of research and attention that it deserve is not always given and for women, who remain the main homemakers in the country while juggling work, parenting and carrying out other family and social obligations, their personal health is often neglected, unless it is  too late like in the case of breast cancer.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), breast cancer caused an estimated 694 000 deaths globally in 2024 and  was the most common cancer in women in 164 countries out of 186 in the same year. Approximately 80% of breast cancers occur in women with no specific risk factors other than sex and age.

Early action is the key to curing breast cancer which is why a program like the one initiated  by the women’s caucus is crucial.

According to the WHO, treatments for breast cancer are more effective and are better tolerated when started early and taken to completion. The effectiveness of breast cancer therapies depends on completing the full course of treatment. Partial treatment is less likely to lead to a positive outcome.

For women detected with breast cancer, family support is essential for them to complete their treatment and make a full recovery. It is in this department that the role of the health authorities is crucial.

The program by the women’s caucus will include health clinics and awareness programs at the electorate and district levels. Special attention will be given to encouraging women in rural communities, plantation areas, urban high-rise housing complexes and underserved areas to attend these clinics. As only around 50% of women aged 35–45 currently attend these clinics, efforts will be made to encourage more women in this age group to make use of the facilities available at designated cancer early-detection centres.

A comprehensive program is also planned for implementation next year to refer all women aged 35–45 for screening tests, bringing together relevant stakeholders, including women’s societies operating at the Grama Niladhari division level. In addition, plans are afoot to conduct cervical cancer awareness programs in January under the leadership of women Members of Parliament.

The programs that focus on women’s health are crucial  given that women usually are caregivers for others and often neglect themselves. There is also lack of awareness such as the self-examination of breasts to detect lumps and other signs of cancer. It’s important to draw attention to women’s health and campaigns such as this  will go a long way to educating not only women, but all others in society  on how early medical intervention even in cancer can lead to full recovery after treatment.