The Department of Community Medicine hosted a seminar on Breast Cancer Awareness on October 05, 2023

The Department of Community Medicine hosted a seminar on Breast Cancer Awareness on October 05, 2023.  The event was conducted with the collaboration of SCM, SIH, and Shifa Foundation. It was attended by students of the Class of 2025 and SCM faculty. The event was decorated pink by the volunteers from SCM and SCD. This was aligned with the Breast cancer theme 2023 “Thrive 365”

The session formally commenced with a welcome note by student Maryam. This was followed by an overview of the Cancer -Situation in Pakistan by Dr. Sajida Naseem, Associate Professor and Acting head of the Department of Community Medicine. She emphasized the global burden of cancers along with the top 5 common cancers in Pakistan with Breast cancer being at the top. She also urged the importance of creating awareness among women regarding their risk assessment, and identifying and treating cancer at the early stage in order to have favorable patient outcomes.

This was followed by a talk on the prevalence of breast Cancer in Pakistan by Dr. Sadia Ajaib, Senior Demonstrator in department of Community Medicine. She highlighted the statistics of rising burden of breast cancer with its associated morbidity and mortality within the limited resource constraints.  

Dr. Zoha Hassan from the department of Family Medicine courageously shared her grandmother, mother and aunts experience of being diagnosed with Breast cancer. She also related their outcome with the presentation of signs and symptoms.

Dr. Arooj Akram from SIH gave a comprehensive presentation on importance of Breast self-examination, diagnosis and management of Breast cancer.

Ms. Menahil from Shifa Foundation shared through video the experience of a breast cancer survivor treated at Shifa Foundation.    

The Seminar ended with note of thanks by Dr Sajida Naseem to the students, speakers and all stakeholders in the conduct of this awareness seminar.