NE HEALTH BUREAU
CHENNAI, MAR 8
To mark International Women’s Day, Actor and Social Activist Radhika Sarathkumar has launched the Apollo Cancer Centre’s “The Power To Fight Breast Cancer in Your Hands’’ campaign in Chennai on Monday.
Launching the campaign, Radhika called upon the women to take care of themselves first while taking care of their loved ones at home. Only healthier women can only ensure a healthy family, she stressed.
The actor appealed to women to use the self-care Application of Apollo Cancer Centre on breast cancer and go for a Mammogram after the age of 40.
⇑Apollo Cancer Centre has collaborated with the Lions Club, to screen women in the villages of Kanchipuram for breast cancer. The mobile medical unit was flagged off by actor Radhika Sarathkumar.
Dr. Pratap C Reddy called upon the masses to make use of the technology to care for themselves. Dr Reddy lauded the efforts of Lions Club in undertaking free Mammogram tests in villages with the help of two mobile buses donated by a leading corporate house.
Preetha Reddy, Vice-Chairperson Apollo Hospitals Group, said, “Around 70% of women in India are diagnosed at a late stage, this needs to change. Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women worldwide. It is estimated that one in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime. While a healthy lifestyle is likely to reduce one’s risk, finding cancer early, is the best way to prevent deaths from the disease. Through this campaign, Apollo Cancer Centre aims to spread awareness on “Self-Examination of Breast”, she added.
Dr Rathna Devi, Radiation Oncologist, Apollo Cancer Centre, said, “The survival rate of breast cancer is low because the detection takes place late. The only way to reduce the number of deaths is by increasing awareness. Breast cancer is a treatable illness, and chances of survival are greater if it’s identified in time. The only way to do so is by being informed of how it can be identified, and a timely diagnosis can be made.”
Dr Bhawna Sirohi, Breast Medical Oncologist at Apollo Proton Cancer Centre said, “Knowledge is power! We need to change the dynamics of cancer care in India and cause a stage migration with the diagnosis of early-stage cancers. We can do this if we proactively look after our health.’’
