PPP Senator Wants Free Breast Cancer Screening for Women

Dr. Kanchana Wijesinghe, a Senior Lecturer and Consultant Specialist, delivered a compelling address at the Breast Cancer Symposium at Hemas Hospital Wattala on October 28. She challenged the common societal habits of spending on luxury items and advocated for reallocating those resources towards life-saving breast cancer screening. She noted that women and their families often hesitate to invest modest amounts in routine screenings, even though they readily spend on food orders, designer clothes, and cosmetics.

Dr. Wijesinghe emphasized that lifestyle habits frequently take precedence over preventive healthcare, urging a shift in financial priorities. "We have no problem spending on food orders, clothes, and makeup. But when it comes to screening, people hesitate. We must change this mindset and make preventive breast screening an absolute priority in our personal budgets," she stressed.

She addressed the clinical reality that breast abnormalities can occur at any age, urging women over 20 to perform monthly self-examinations a few days after their menstrual cycle. Dr. Wijesinghe warned that early signs are often ignored, leading to lumps growing significantly into higher stages of cancer, which are more challenging to treat.

"We want to catch it in Stage 1, where it is tiny and treatment is exceptionally effective," she explained. "If women wait until symptoms progress due to fear or shyness, treatments become far more demanding."

The expert outlined a three-tiered detection strategy: Self-Breast Examination (SBE), Clinical Breast Examination (CBE), and Screening Mammography. SBE is recommended monthly for all women over 20, performed a few days after menstruation. CBE, an essential annual evaluation for women over 40, is conducted by a qualified medical doctor. Screening Mammography is advised every two years for women over 40 to detect microcalcifications before a physical lump forms.

Dr. Wijesinghe also addressed the emotional and psychological barriers that deter women from undergoing cancer screenings. She debunked the fatalistic notion that discovering a lump means the end of a normal life. She highlighted that modern surgical and oncological treatments, including reconstructive procedures, enable women to undergo treatment and lead vibrant, healthy lives.

Concluding her address, Dr. Wijesinghe issued a direct call to action to the attendees, including husbands, mothers, and daughters. "Take personal responsibility, utilize available screening methods without delay, and ensure that personal expenditure supports long-term survival rather than temporary indulgence," she urged.