Special screening to diagnose breast, cervix cancer starts
CHANDIGARH: The Punjab government has started a campaign, exclusively to diagnose breast, cervix, and mouth cancer. This special campaign is being implemented in 22 districts and 192 subdivisional hospitals and community health centres in the state.
After the preliminary screening of over 50,000 females, as many as 1,150 were suspected of having cancer. State health and family welfare minister Brahm Mohindra said that the state government has initiated a free annual preventive health check-up programme to diagnose the most common diseases — cancer, hypertension and diabetes — among people.
He said, research has established that if detected at first stage, cancer can be cured. “Right information at right time will save the patients who are unaware of the symptoms of cancer,” he added.
He said, the health department has imparted special training to the medical officers (MOs), staff nurses and auxiliary nurse mid wife (ANMs) to conduct tests under the screening campaign, especially in rural areas of the state. Around 2,886 ANMs and 155 nursing sisters have been trained for this programme.
Mohindra said, “In women, breast and cervix cancer is the most common cancer. Under the screening programme, 20,487 females have been screened for cervix cancer.”
Of these, 460 are suspected to have the disease and 384 females have been referred for further tests. Of the 29,636 females screened under breast cancer, 683 are suspected to have the ailment and 579 have been referred for further tests.”
In mouth cancer screening, 21,832 females and 12,746 males were screened, of which, 236 females and 330 males are suspected to have the disease, and 176 females and 294 males have been referred for further investigation. He further added that cancer patients belonging to below poverty line (BPL) families in Punjab have been given financial assistance of upto ₹1.50 lakh for cancer treatment, under the Mukh Mantri Cancer Rahat Kosh. He said that the state government has planned to upgrade hospitals where cancer treatment is being provided.