Women’s College organizes Breast Cancer awareness event

Aligarh:Dr Mohsin Raza, Senior Consultant, General Surgeon and Group Director and Facilitator of ‘Breast Cancer awareness among Indian women’ recently briefed a gathering at the Women’s College Auditorium, Aligarh Muslim University assembled to observe a mega ‘Breast Cancer Awareness’ event on the occasion of ‘World Cancer Day’.

The event also had patron of ‘Breast Cancer awareness among Indian women’ group, Mrs Sabiha Simi Shah, who lit a torch to spread the breast cancer awareness and walked with 10 AMU school girls carrying candles to spread awareness. 
Delivering the Presidential address, Mrs Sabiha Simi Shah lauded the efforts of Dr Mohsin Raza and Dr Shahid Siddiqi in regularly organizing such programs in and around Aligarh. She urged the girls to be the Ambassadors of the movement against the killer disease.
Briefing the audience about the alarming increase in cases of Breast cancer in India, Dr Raza pointed out that one in 20 women in India suffer from Breast cancer. He added that India has surpassed China in the death rate of cancer patients.
“In USA and Europe around 85 percent of women seek medical advice on precautions to avoid cancer, while only five percent of Indian women receive some sort of advice on cancer awareness,” said Dr Raza adding that most Indians seek expert advice only when the disease has advanced.
He also pointed out that the breast cancer patients in India are in the age group of 35-50 years, which is 10 years lesser than the age group of breast cancer patients in USA and European countries. Talking about the hurdles in spreading awareness of the disease, Dr Raza said that
there are several myths and social taboos associated with disease.
While hosting the event, Professor Naima Khatoon, Principal Women’s College appreciated the philanthropic activity of Dr Raza and pledged her support in future.
Prof Shahid Siddiqi, Head of Radiotherapy, JNMC spoke on the importance of the ‘Cancer Day’. He said that overall increase in spreading of cancer around the globe has several factors that are associated with the life styles, like tobacco chewing and cigarette smoking and liquor consumption among other things.
He emphasized upon the change and avoidance of known causes of cancers.
Earlier, Dr T Munira introduced the organizers with a brief introduction of the objectives of the event.Dr Farah Khan conducted the event while Dr Farzana Hadi demonstrated self-examination techniques to the exclusive women audience.
The organizers of the event said that they wanted to raise an army of volunteers to create awareness among Indian women so that the disease is caught in early stage.
On the occasion, the Women’s College of AMU was declared as the Centre of Breast Cancer awareness movement among Indian women. The organizers added that this
cloud rising  from AMU Women’s College will reach throughout the length and breadth of the Nation to create awareness among women. Dr T Munira delivered the vote of thanks to conclude the programme.