Educate a Woman, Save a Life: Why Breast Cancer Awareness Must Become Pakistan’s National Priority
By Dr. Hira Yousuf Khan
Consultant Medical Oncologist, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, United Kingdom
Instagram: @hira_yousuf11
Professor Ahmad Nadeem Abbasi
Radiation Oncologist, The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi
Every October, the world is painted pink to mark Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Buildings are illuminated, fundraising events are organised, and social media is filled with messages encouraging women to check their breasts and seek help early.
Yet for millions of women, particularly in low- and middle-income countries such as Pakistan, awareness cannot be limited to one month of the year. It must become part of everyday conversations in our homes, schools, universities, workplaces and communities.
As a breast oncologist working in the United Kingdom, I am fortunate to care for women with breast cancer in a healthcare system where organised screening, specialist breast services and public awareness campaigns have helped improve outcomes. Alongside my clinical work, I frequently receive phone calls and messages from patients, colleagues, families and friends in Pakistan seeking advice about breast symptoms and treatment options.
Recently, one incident shook me to my core.
I was told about a 21-year-old young woman who had been bleeding from her breast for almost a year. She had hidden her symptoms because she felt embarrassed and feared being blamed or misunderstood. By the time she finally reached Jinnah Hospital, her haemoglobin had fallen to just 38 g/L. Despite every effort by the medical team, she sadly passed away.
Her story is not simply about breast cancer. It is about silence. It is about stigma.
It is about the urgent need for education.
Breast Cancer in Pakistan: A Growing Health Crisis
Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women in Pakistan and remains a major cause of cancer-related deaths. According to estimates attributed to the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), around 43,700 new cases of breast cancer were reported in Pakistan in 2024. This burden highlights the importance of greater awareness, early diagnosis and timely access to treatment.
Pakistan has long been recognised as having one of the highest breast cancer incidence rates in Asia, with many women presenting at advanced stages because of delayed diagnosis and limited awareness.
Perhaps the most alarming statistic is this: approximately one in nine Pakistani women is expected to develop breast cancer during her lifetime.
Behind every statistic is someone’s mother, daughter, sister, wife or friend.
Why Are So Many Women Diagnosed Late?
Unlike many developed countries, Pakistan does not currently have a nationwide population-based breast screening programme. As a result, many women seek medical attention only after developing symptoms rather than having cancer detected through screening at an earlier stage.
Research published in 2024 highlights the scale of the challenge. Breast cancer awareness remains worryingly low, with only around 42% of women recognising warning signs, fewer than 30% reporting that they perform breast self-examinations, and only 15% having ever undergone a clinical breast examination by a healthcare professional.
The reasons for delayed diagnosis are complex and often interconnected. They include embarrassment, fear of a cancer diagnosis, financial barriers, cultural stigma, lack of education, misconceptions that breast changes are normal and, in some cases, reliance on myths or unproven remedies before seeking medical advice.
Tragically, these delays can allow cancers to grow, spread to other parts of the body and become more difficult to treat.
Early diagnosis is one of the most effective ways to improve outcomes. Achieving it begins with education, awareness and timely access to healthcare.
Know Your Normal
One of the most common questions I hear from women is: “Doctor, how should I examine my breasts?”
My answer is always simple: know what is normal for you.
Breasts naturally change with age, hormones, pregnancy and the menstrual cycle. Instead of trying to remember a complicated examination technique, become familiar with how your breasts normally look and feel.
If you notice a new lump, nipple discharge, bleeding, skin dimpling, swelling, persistent pain in one area or any change that concerns you, seek medical advice promptly.
Do not wait for pain. Do not wait for a lump to grow. Do not delay because you feel embarrassed.
Most breast changes are not cancer, but every new or concerning change deserves medical assessment. Early diagnosis saves lives.
Screening Saves Lives
Many women ask whether they should have a mammogram.
It is important to understand that screening is intended for people who have no symptoms. Its purpose is to detect cancer before it can be felt.
In the United Kingdom, the NHS invites women aged 50 to 71 for free mammography every three years. Women with a strong family history or inherited genetic mutations may be offered enhanced surveillance from a younger age, depending on their individual risk.
Organised screening programmes, combined with public education and rapid access to specialist breast clinics, help detect cancers earlier and can improve survival.
Pakistan does not yet have a nationwide population-based breast screening programme.
Establishing one will require investment and careful planning. However, progress can begin now by strengthening breast awareness, improving access to diagnostic services, expanding specialist breast clinics and introducing phased, government-funded screening for women at greatest risk.
Early detection is not a luxury. It is an important investment in public health.
A National Responsibility
Breast cancer awareness cannot remain the responsibility of doctors alone. It is a shared national responsibility.
Schools should teach girls about breast health as part of health education.
Universities should organise awareness campaigns.
Television channels, newspapers and digital media should continue educating the public throughout the year, not only during October.
Religious scholars, community leaders and teachers can help remove the stigma surrounding women’s health.
Healthcare professionals must continue educating patients and advocating for better services.
As oncologists, surgeons and physicians, we should work collectively with policymakers to encourage the Government of Pakistan to develop a comprehensive national breast cancer strategy. This should include public education, specialist breast units, affordable diagnostic services and an organised breast screening programme.
Every woman, regardless of where she lives or how much she earns, deserves the opportunity for early diagnosis.
The Danger of Misinformation in the Digital Age
In today’s digital world, many people seek health advice on YouTube, Facebook, TikTok and Instagram before consulting a doctor. While social media has helped spread awareness, it has also become a powerful source of misinformation.
As an oncologist, I frequently hear about patients who delayed seeking medical care because they were told that breast cancer could be cured with herbal remedies, special diets or supplements; that surgery “awakens” cancer; or that a biopsy causes cancer to spread.
Others first seek help from an aamil, believing their illness is caused by nazar (the evil eye) or jadu (black magic), delaying the medical assessment they urgently need.
Let me be clear: these claims are not supported by reliable scientific evidence.
I truly wish there were a simple cure for cancer. I wish a green smoothie, an herbal remedy or a miracle drink could make cancer disappear overnight. If such a cure existed, oncologists around the world would want to use it. Unfortunately, no such universal cure exists. What helps save lives is early diagnosis and evidence-based treatment.
A biopsy is an essential diagnostic procedure for determining whether a suspicious breast change is cancerous. It does not cause breast cancer to spread in the way commonly claimed. Delaying medical assessment or a recommended biopsy, however, can postpone diagnosis and treatment.
As a believer, I strongly believe that faith and medicine should go hand in hand. There is nothing wrong with prayer or seeking spiritual comfort, but these should never replace timely medical care.
Unfortunately, some self-proclaimed “experts” and unqualified practitioners exploit fear and desperation by promoting miracle cures and discouraging proven treatments. This is why education is so important.
Pakistan needs more qualified healthcare professionals, particularly oncologists, to become responsible voices in the digital space. I fully appreciate how demanding clinical work can be, with long clinics, emergencies, research, teaching and family commitments. Finding time to write blogs, record videos or engage on social media is not easy.
However, we are living in an era when information reaches people through their phones before it reaches them through hospitals. If doctors do not occupy this space with accurate, evidence-based information, it will continue to be filled with misinformation and false promises.
We need more oncologists to become health educators, bloggers and social media influencers—not for popularity, but for public service.
A short video explaining why a breast lump needs medical assessment, a simple post correcting the myth that a biopsy spreads cancer, or a message encouraging women to seek appropriate screening can reach thousands of people and potentially save lives.
My Hope
I often think about the 21-year-old woman whose life ended before it had truly begun.
Perhaps if breast health had been taught in her school…
Perhaps if she had seen awareness campaigns on television…
Perhaps if she had known there was no shame in speaking about her symptoms…
Perhaps if her family had understood the importance of seeking medical help early…
Perhaps her story might have been different.
But we cannot rewrite her story.
What we can do is ensure that her silence becomes a voice for thousands of other women.
Through this article and every opportunity to raise awareness, I hope to contribute towards breaking the silence around breast cancer. I believe knowledge carries a responsibility: the responsibility to use the privilege of education and the power of the written word to serve society.
Whenever I visit Pakistan, I hope to contribute not only by treating patients but also by visiting schools, colleges and universities to speak to young women and men about breast health, early diagnosis and the importance of never suffering in silence.
I also hope to continue nurturing the next generation of oncologists by teaching and mentoring oncology trainees—not only to become excellent clinicians but also compassionate educators, advocates and voices of hope for their patients.
A doctor’s duty does not end with prescribing treatment. It extends to educating communities, challenging myths, empowering patients and ensuring that knowledge reaches those who need it most.
Because education is one of the most powerful tools for prevention and early detection.
Knowledge gives women confidence.
Confidence gives women the courage to seek help.
Early diagnosis gives women a better chance of survival.
Let us replace fear with facts. Let us replace silence with conversation. Let us replace stigma with support. Let us empower women through education.
Because when we educate a girl, we protect a family.
When we empower a woman, we strengthen a nation.
And when we make breast cancer everyone’s conversation—not just the focus of every October campaign—we give thousands of women the opportunity to receive timely care and live healthier lives. We must also help ensure that breasts are discussed in a respectful, health-focused way rather than being sexualised, so women feel safe seeking life-saving care.
If, after reading this article, even one mother, daughter or sister is encouraged to become familiar with her breasts or seek medical advice about a change she has noticed, then it will all have been worth it.
Perhaps one doctor will be inspired to write a blog, create a short video or start a podcast to raise awareness. Perhaps someone will be encouraged to support or improve breast screening services in Pakistan.
Change often starts with one person taking one small step. If this article inspires even one person to take that step, then it has served its purpose.
