The importance of screening
A three-day breast cancer screening camp will be held at various places in Kochi.
It’s tentacles run deep into our society’s health therefore cancer is looked upon with fear by anyone and everyone irrespective of age. The earlier the better being norm, Y’s Men International, this month, is organising a three-day cancer detection camp, Santhwanam, at various centres in Kochi close to the coastal areas of Thoppumpadi, Aroor and Palluruthi.
This time around the focus is on breast cancer, which according to the organisers, was found in 188 women when 10,000 people were screened based on a report released in 2016. This means 19 percent of the population is under the grip of cancer in some way. Though it is easy to identify breast cancer in the early stages, the symptoms go unnoticed. Ultrasound scans and mammograms are effective ways to detect them.
During the camp, the mobile mammogram unit of Cochin Cancer Society would be stationed at the respective centres from 8 am to
5 pm. Women aged 35 or above, who have registered their names in advance, can undergo the screening. The target is to screen 150 women a day. The vehicle would be equipped with modern ultrasound scanning facility and
3-D mammogram unit. Three doctors and other technical staff would be in service. On the sidelines of the programme, a team lead by noted Oncologist
Dr V.P. Gangadharan would conduct seminars and awareness sessions. The camps from November 24 to 26 are at YMCA Cochin Club Hall, Koovapadam, Our Lady of Mercy School, Aroor Junction, and Palluruthi E.K. Narayanan Square. Names can be registered by calling 9447437000 (Koovapadam), 9447748512 (Aroor Junction) and 9847659749 (Palluruthi).