Foundation to hold rally on Breast Cancer

Tiruchirapalli, Oct 13 (UNI) Dr K Santha Breast Cancer Foundation would hold an awareness rally here tomorrow to mark 'World Breast Cancer Awareness month'.

Talking to newspersons here yesterday, K Govindarajan, Director of city-based GVN Hospital and the organiser of the rally 'Cross Cauvery for Cancer' said over 50 schools and colleges would display posters on possible prevention and treatment for breast cancer at the school.

Mr Govindarajan said the incidence of the disease went up in a decade, equalling that of cervical cancer among women. The age group afflicted by it had also reduced alarmingly to an average of 30-60 years, he added.

K N Srinivasan, Radiation Oncologist said, mammogram was seen as an expensive test in India. Hence, women, especially above 30 years, should be urged to undergo regular Breast Self Examination (BSE) and tomorrow's rally would highlight the importance of BSE, Mr Srinivasan added.

They said the Foundation runs a self-help group, comprising about 125 women with breast cancer. The six-month-old SHG would serve as a morale booster for the women and their families.

In an attempt to encourage cancer patients to continue their livelihood, the Foundation planned to sell the craftwork of the SHG members by organising exhibitions and setting up a handicrafts stall at the airport.

Marketing greeting cards and hand-kerchiefs and to utilise the proceeds for the non-profit Foundation had also been planned they added.

UNI