Raising breast cancer awareness session held

ISLAMABAD: An information session to promote awareness about breast cancer diagnosis was held on Friday.

The event was held at Islamabad College for Girls, Sector F6/2 and was facilitated by Pink Ribbon Volunteers, a project of Women Empowerment Group and Vision 2015 International.

Pink Ribbon Campaign National Coordinator Omer Aftab said the pink ribbon was an international symbol of support for breast cancer awareness since the last ten years.

He said that citizens were urged to wear pink ribbons every year in October in honour of women who were now courageously fighting the battle against breast cancer.

“The pink ribbon is an emblem of hope for breast cancer sufferers and for everyone who is working to fight this curable disease”, Omer Aftab said.

The principal objective of the Pink Ribbon Campaign, he said, was to create widespread awareness about breast cancer and to promote the understanding and practice of self-diagnosis. It was also an attempt to motivate people to collect funds for campaign execution, he added.

Through a presentation, NORI Hospital Islamabad Consultant Oncologist and Radiotherapy and Oncology Head Dr Kaukab Jabeen highlighted the importance of the self-examination of breasts and regular mammography in the early detection of breast cancer. She also underlined the need for a healthy lifestyle in the prevention of breast cancer.

Neelum Naqvi, a breast cancer survivor, shared her experience of coping and fighting against the disease, with the audience. She mentioned in particular about her loss of hair during chemotherapy treatments and the importance of communication with other victims of breast cancer and family members.

Volunteer Services Director Aqdus Aslam urged the audience to support the campaign while stressing upon the need to spread awareness about breast cancer to help fight against disease, and the importance of volunteers in particular, since they can help reach the maximum number of people with this knowledge. app