Breast cancer cases: CHK records 168 this year

KARACHI: Dr Ruth KM Pfau Civil Hospital Karachi (CHK) registered yet another 168 new breast cancer patients so far this year, taking the tally of such patients to 930 since 2021 at the hospital. Almost half of them were diagnosed as stage-4 patients –hard to be cured and survive, this emerged last week.

According to doctors at the oncology department of the CHK, the newly registered cases this year include a 19-year-old woman, besides 15 patients in 20s, while age of other patients ranged from 30 to 70 years.

In all, the hospital registered around 800 patients suffering from different kinds of cancer this year, of whom around 25% are breast cancer patients of different stages, seeking different medical and surgical interventions for the disease, said a senior doctor, estimating one out of four cancer patients suffer from breast cancer. The registered breast cancer patients are provided with imaging (Mammography, CT scan and MRI) facility, and biopsy and surgical covers.

Among the total breast cancer patients registered at the CHK, 81 women were diagnosed as stage-1 cases, suggesting that early diagnosis and treatment rate is considerably slow among such patients. A stage-wise breakdown of patients in four years (2021-2024) is reported as: stage-1, 81 cases; stage-2, 122 cases; stage- 3, 268 cases; and stage-4, 459 cases.

A location-wise breakdown of breast cancer patients registered with the CHK came as: Karachi, 651 patients; Hyderabad, 61; Naushehro Feroz, 39; and other districts, 179 patients. Any exact information about the deaths of breast cancer patients during the four years in question could not be obtained, as, according to doctors, stage 4 patients happen to be beyond surgical or chemo interventions, who largely receive their oral therapies at home and at other hospitals, if terminally ill, and as such the CHK does not have any updates about them.

Dr Shumaila Khero, a senior consultant physician and head of CHK oncology ward told this reporter that breast cancer is one of the most prevalent malignancies among women worldwide, adding the CHK has witnessed an alarming increase in such patients over the past few years.

She remarked that the age range of the affected patients spans from as young as 16 to as old as 80 years, though the majority of the cases were found in women over 45 years of age. “This trend underlines the critical importance of regular screenings and early detection, especially in middle-aged and elderly women, where the risk is significantly higher.”

Dr Khero shared that breast cancer treatment is not just a physical and emotional burden but also a significant financial challenge for patients and their families. According to her, the cost varies widely depending on the type, stage, and histology of the disease. Average treatment cost per patient ranges from Rs100,000 to Rs300,000, which may increase up to Rs2.5 million as per patient’s breast cancer type and histology. “All these expenses are fully covered by the Sindh government for all cancer patients at Civil Hospital Karachi,” she said.

Referring to the increasing number of breast cancer cases and the high treatment costs, Dr Khero stressed the urgent need for public health initiatives like launching early detection programmes, with awareness campaigns focusing on regular screening and self-examination. “Women should be encouraged to undergo screening or mammography both in the urban and rural settings by creating awareness and increasing counselling at taluka level hospitals across Sindh,” she noted.                      --M A

Courtesy: Social Track, weekly.