Beasley, Allen, Crow, Methvin, Portis & Miles, P.C.

Breast cancer is a disease that affects women all around the world. One in eight women in the U.S. has the disease, one out of 10 in Europe, and one out of 11 in Australia. In Pakistan, the ratio is three in 10.

Earlier this week, as part of October’s international breast cancer awareness month, leaders from Liaquat National Hospital in Pakistan addressed the issue and their concern over why so many Pakistani women are still unaware of the disease, according to the Daily Times.

Sixty-eight percent of Pakistani women living in urban areas have breast cancer as opposed to 32 percent of Pakistani women living in rural areas. Oncologists blame the lack of awareness and information about the treatment for breast cancer, citing women’s concern that chemotherapy causes hair loss and biopsies will help the disease spread. They also argue that free mammograms would encourage more women to seek medical attention and thus aid in early detection.

According to the story, 10 percent of Pakistani women are at risk for breast cancer, but few are aware of the risk factors for the disease.

Aga Khan University Hospital Associate Professor of Haematology and Oncology, Dr Nihal Masood, in her lecture on at the conference said that there is a greater than 50 percent spread of breast cancer in the country for younger women. “Therefore, every doctor, medical student and informed people should convey this message to elder women of their families so they are examined,” according to the report.

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