This lecture was planned to be delivered at UVAS in 2020 for the Breast Cancer Awareness about Self examination.

1. Breast Cancer Awareness:
Pivotal Role of Self
Examination
Dr. Sobia Khalid
Assistant Professor
Histopathology
University of Health Sciences, Lahore.

3. WHY Breast Cancer?

4. Reference: http://malebc.org/awareness/

5. WHY

6. WHY Pakistan lacks statistics?
• Lack of access to adequate diagnostic services.
• Lack of access to treatment of breast cancer throughout
Pakistan other than a few metro cities
• Unavailability and unaffordability of Chemo, Radiation and
Targeted Therapies
• Medicines of Breast Cancer are highly expensive
• Molecules that are used in breast cancer treatment are
expensive and all of them are not available in Pakistan
• Breast Cancer is not included in Health Card issued by
Government of Pakistan
• Baitul-Mal caters a small fraction of needy breast cancer
patients
• There is no National Cancer Registry available in Pakistan
• There is no National Cancer Prevention Programme in

7. HOW

8. WHAT

9. WHEN
Reference: https://www.promotionswi.scot.nhs.uk/?p=5088

10. SELF EXAMINATION

12. SELF EXAMINATION video
• https://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/brea
st-self-exam

13. WHERE

14. WHO

15. WHAT’S NEW?
ER
PR
HER2Neu
Mib1/Ki-67 proliferation index
SPARC
MAMMAPRINT 70-GENE PROGNOSTIC
ASSAY

16. MAMMAPRINT 70-GENE
Prognostic Assay
The MammaPrint assay is designed to
identify younger breast cancer patients at
low risk for distant metastasis, who might
consequently be spared systemic
treatment.
The 70 genes that comprise the
MammaPrint assay are focused primarily
on proliferation, with additional genes
associated with invasion, metastasis,
stromal integrity and angiogenesis.

17. WHAT TO DO
• Recommendations for the government of Pakistan
• To waive off custom duties on diagnostic equipment,
especially Mammogram and Ultrasound Machines
• Diagnostic facilities should be available, at least at the DHQ
level
• Breast Cancer treatment to be prioritised in the health budget
• Inclusion of Breast Cancer treatment in health card issued by
the Government
• Subsidise breast cancer medicines or abolish taxes and
duties
• Allow Import of all Molecules for the Treatment of Breast
Cancer and waive off custom duties too
• Cancer-causing ingredients that are used in food should be
banned in Pakistan

18. SELF EXAMINATION

19. LEAST we can do…
Breast Self Examination