0.4 million women die of breast cancer every year

KARACHI - Women who are diagnosed with breast cancer at an early stage have an 84 percent chance of survival, while these chances are much reduced to 18 percent for women diagnosed at a later stage, said Dr Nazia Riaz, Consultant General Surgeon, Department of Surgery, Aga Khan University (AKU) at a public awareness program for Breast Cancer Awareness Day, held at the University on Saturday evening.

Age increases the risk of getting breast cancer. People in their 40s have a higher risk of getting breast cancer than someone in their 20s, said Dr Riaz, adding that one in eight women worldwide is affected by this disease. Breast cancer has become the most common malignant illness among women both in developed and developing countries.