Medically reviewed by Dr. Muhammad Ashraf Shera.
Pakistan has the highest prevalence of breast cancer in all of Asia – Let that sink in.
According to reports, nearly 90,000 new cases of breast cancer are diagnosed every year, so 1 out of every 10 females in the country are likely to be diagnosed with this disease. Out of these, 40,000 women do not survive. However, there is some light at the end of the tunnel here too! Unlike most other invasive cancers, if breast cancer is detected in time, it has a 90% survival rate! To tackle the rising issue of cancers, there is a dire need for organizations at a national and international level to step up and help spread the word. The fatality rate can be drastically reduced if females are able to detect breast cancer at an early stage. Although there are some organizations working on the issue, there is indeed room for more platforms and organizations to step up to the challenge. Here is a list of some of the organizations that are aimed solely at reducing the mortality rate of breast cancer in Pakistan and helping individuals suffering from this disease get the treatment they deserve.
Breast Cancer Organizations in Pakistan
Pink Ribbon Pakistan
Pink Ribbon Pakistan is one of the first and largest organizations in the country to address breast cancer. The organization was founded in 2004 and has gained tremendous momentum stance its start. As one of the first organizations to spread awareness about the topic, Pink ribbon Pakistan faced numerous hurdles when it came to breaking the topic into mainstream media. However, the organization was successful in its mission and has helped breast cancer gain the national attention it needs. The organization’s strife against the disease has led them to become a proud winner of the IPRA Frontline Golden World Award. Furthermore, Pink Ribbon Pakistan has expanded its operations to include numerous other services as well. Most notably, the organization has recently launched National Breast Cancer Screen Program through Mobile Mammogram Units. Besides this, Pink Ribbon Pakistan’s vision of establishing the country’s first dedicated hospital is also in the pipeline. Once established, the hospital will cater to about 40,000 patients from all over the country and will include a wide variety of breast cancer treatment services.
Pink Ribbon Pakistan is one of the most successful organizations of the country and has been able to surpass its goals with ease thanks to the tireless efforts of its founders and team. This foundation serves as a national asset in the country’s fight against breast cancer. It has always been at the forefront when it comes to advocacy and campaigning.
The Pink Pakistan
The Pink Pakistan is a platform that unites individuals in the fight against breast cancer. The foundation firmly believes that early detection is the best prevention, and has partnered with other organizations to spread awareness about this cause as well.
BCAF Breast Cancer Awareness Foundation, Pakistan
BCAF is a Lahore based organization that is dedicated to the cause of reducing the disease’s mortality rates in Pakistan through awareness and early detection. The foundation has done numerous collaborations with other cancer organizations including Pink Ribbon Pakistan and Shaukat Khanum Cancer Memorial Hospital to help spread awareness about this deadly disease.
Conclusion
Breast cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer in Pakistan. As one of the largest proponents of female health, Dawaai is proud to be a part of this battle against the disease. Our Organization has partnered with foundations that support the same cause to help spread awareness and bring about a much-needed change in the narrative of breast cancer in Pakistan.
References:
https://jpma.org.pk/article-details/1863
https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12889-019-7330-z
