The Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) identifies 90 to 100 new breast cancer cases every month, revealed Dr. Erum Najeeb, assistant professor and consultant breast surgeon at PIMS, during a breast cancer awareness session held at the hospital.

Dr. Najeeb emphasized that breast cancer remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths among women in Pakistan.

“Every year, approximately 90,000 women in Pakistan are diagnosed with breast cancer, and 40,000 lose their lives to the disease. What’s particularly alarming is that patients in Pakistan are often younger and present with the disease in its advanced stages,” she explained.

As the chief organizer of Pink Fest 2024, Dr. Najeeb highlighted the significant progress made over the past decade at tertiary care hospitals in Islamabad, including PIMS. She noted that state-of-the-art diagnostic and therapeutic equipment has been introduced with the support of the government.

“Highly trained, foreign-qualified professionals have joined the team. These advancements, along with effective awareness campaigns, have led to a gradual shift toward earlier detection. This enables patients to avoid disfiguring surgeries and opt for less invasive treatments. At PIMS, the Surgical OPD handles over 1,500 cases of breast-related issues every month,” she added.

A recent report revealed that over 60% of women now receive diagnostic and treatment services within timelines that align with international standards. This percentage is expected to improve further with the establishment of a dedicated cancer hospital currently under construction at PIMS.

The awareness event was inaugurated by PIMS Executive Director Prof. Dr. Rana Imran Sikander and included a panel discussion featuring prominent clinicians such as Prof. Dr. Rakshanda Rashid, Prof. Dr. S.H. Waqar, Prof. Dr. Mumtaz Ahmed, Dr. Ayesha Isani, Dr. Humera Mahmood, and Dr. Ahmareen Khalid. Members of the Orthopedics Unit 2, led by Dr. Asfandyar Khan, also participated in the event.