Breast cancer is known to be one of the most common health complications among women. The frequency and significance of this disease at the moment is even increasing. As the world observes Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October, it’s only natural to review the state of breast cancer care. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), in 2022, more than 2.3 million women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in one year, making this type of cancer the most common type among women on the whole globe. Unfortunately, that year more than 670,000 women died from this disease, calling for the need to completely change prevention strategies, treatment and the outlook towards breast cancer.

In Bangladesh, the situation has become more alarming. As of December 2020, there have been over 13,000 cases of breast cancer and it will become a major cause of mortality among women. The impact of the disease is felt by families, communities and the country as a whole. Women, in many cases, are diagnosed with more advanced forms of the disease, thus reducing their survival rates. This is largely due to a mixture of social taboos, unavailability of medical facilities and poor public education activities in rural and urban regions. The fact that women are often reluctant to seek treatment for their female health problems creates another problem in conservative cultures and approaches to health care. To change these negative trends, it is necessary to address this stigma and increase the coverage of healthcare services.

Countries such as the US and the UK have comprehensive screening programs, along with reputable radiology departments, that allow early detection of the disease and, if necessary, treatment. Therefore, more than 90 percent of patients have five-year survival rates. However, this is not the case in developing countries such as Bangladesh, where women tend to be diagnosed at a later stage, when treatment options are few and patients must navigate a support system fragmented medical. To improve breast cancer treatment and care, coordination of health care initiatives in Bangladesh is needed, along with health sector reforms that guarantee access to basic health care for all women.

This problem can be effectively tackled by creating awareness and educating the masses about the problem. Early detection of breast cancer is crucial and, if achieved, can significantly decrease death rates from breast cancer, which is considered curable if detected early. Women should be encouraged to perform routine breast self-exams. Awareness should be raised about the need to seek screening even in the absence of clinical symptoms. Furthermore, mobile units that can perform such screening in remote regions can be instrumental in providing these services to women who would otherwise not have them. In addition, urban-centric mobile services can be very effective and life-saving for many women.

Creativity and worldwide efforts in breast cancer should bring new ways to implement treatment techniques that are cost-effective and practical. Although advances in treatment and medication have been encouraging for women in rich countries, they remain out of reach for most women in low-income countries. In such cases, united efforts to make effective health strategies available, regardless of financial limitations, should be the focus of all governments and organizations contributing to global health. However, since new technologies are invented by scientists, it is important that countries with fewer resources, such as Bangladesh, can also access them. A well-developed care plan that consists of information dissemination, screening and affordable breast cancer treatment will help reduce the death rate from breast cancer.

The month of October offers an opportunity to commemorate the fight against breast cancer. Giving women the power of knowledge and access to healthcare facilities would be the first step as many can be saved. Breast cancer deaths worldwide can be significantly reduced and a better quality of life guaranteed for millions of women by providing better treatment options, greater awareness and greater international collaboration.

Maria Rahman is a graduate of electrical and electronic engineering from BRAC University.

The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author.

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