State high on breast cancer in NE
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, September 03 2011: With cases of breast cancer in manipur said to be very high among the States of the North Eastern region, president of Breast Cancer Patients Benefit Foundation Dr Sameer Kaul today stressed on the need for sustained awareness campaigns among the people of the State to reduce the fatality rate.

Speaking to newspersons at Classic Hotel here today, where the first ever cancer conference in the State was held followed by a free cancer screening camp, Dr Sameer conveyed that the Foundation has been providing free cancer screening and disbursing costly cancer drugs free of charge to poor patients across South Asia for the past 18 years.

Stating that Manipur competes with its other 'seven sister' Mizoram, for the dubious status of being home to the highest number of cancer patients in North Eastern India, he said in addition to cases of lung, stomach, nasopharynx, non-Hodgkin's lymphomas and oesophageal cancers on the rise in the State, Manipuri women are increasingly being diagnosed with lung, breast and cervical cancers.

Appreciating the Government of Manipur's response to the alarming situation with the setting up of Regional Cancer Centre at RIMS, he also noted that hard-working professionals at the RIMS Centre are still grappling with inadequate resources and meagre infrastructure in their tussle against the spiralling incidence of this 'stubborn disease' .

Informing that lectures by prominent cancer experts and the free cancer camp under the banner 'Women and Cancer' organised by the Foundation in collaboration with Indian Medical Association's Manipur Chapter and Shija Hospitals will continue tomorrow, Dr Sameer said motive of such an endeavour is to increase awareness on the elusive disease and highlight the importance of prevention, early diagnosis, prompt treatment and rehabilitation among men and women suffering from cancer in Manipur.

He also presented a detailed account of the Foundation's objective to present to the State and Central Health ministries a charter of fundamental rights of cancer patients.

Members of the Foundation namely Dr Deepali Kapoor, Dr Shaheen Nooryezdan, Dr Feroz Pasha and Dr Kh Palin were also present at the event.

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