Govt advised to install quality breast cancer machines
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, September 23 2022:
While sharing his observation that the government should keep quality digital mammography machines at public hospitals so that people can diagnose breast cancer at affordable rate, Babina Healthcare and Hospitality Industries Pvt Ltd chairman and managing director Dr Th Dhabali has suggested that the government launch a scheme to facilitate diagnosis for the same at private diagnostic centres at lower rate.
Speaking at the press conference organised by Fujifilm India held on the topic 'Breast Imaging Update' at Classic Grande here on Friday, Dr Dhabali pointed out that along with increasing cases of cancer in the state, people have also become more aware about the disease.
North East is today known as the cancer capital due to high prevalence of cancer cases.
For Manipur, 97 per one lakh males and 100 per one lakh females are diagnosed with cancer.
The rate of breast cancer among the people of Manipur is proportionate to the national level, he cautioned, while adding that the main causes of cancer include both environmental factors and food habits.
Pointing out that the only modality for early detection of breast cancer is mammography, he stressed that women above 50 years should go to regular screening.
Those women who have family history of cancer should volunteer for examination as and when they attain 35 years of age.
However, the number of women opting for precautionary testing is still very low, he said.
Dr Dhabali further stated that Babina Healthcare has been using digital mammography machine of Fujifilm India since the last two years.
The machine provides best resolution and helps in detection of breast cancer.
As such installing these machines at the government hospitals will benefit the public at large, he added.
Responding to posers raised by media persons, a representative Fujifilm India informed that digital mammography machines are already in use at Shija hospital and Babina.
A tender for keeping the machine at RIMS is under process, but the surety of it is not clear, the representative said.
During the press meet, Fujifilm India Pvt Ltd Japanese advisor Shunsuke Honda talked about the initiatives taken up by the company, while NM Medical Centre, Mumbai Breast Imaging and Interventions consultant Dr Shilpa stressed on the importance of early detection of breast cancer.