Jyoti Priyadarshini, India

Female patients with breast lump regularly come to cytopathology section for Fine Neddle Aspiration Cytology(FNAC).I am aghast to see the increasing number of breast cancer cases and that too with decreasing age of presentation.The problem is that despite several attempts of awareness generation,females mostly present late with advanced stage of disease.

A young female 24 years old presented with a lump and on cancer diagnosis it was very sad to see her cry for her life coz she had children to look after with no household or financial support.

Being a daily wager,burdened with social stigma,financial constraints and family responsibilities she carried the  painless lump for a long time.By the time disease progressed and she reached the clinics, cancer claws were already making way locally and distantly.

It was heartbreaking.In fact most female reach first health care contact late and are pushed into higher stages of malignancy.Everytime I come across a breast cancer patient I promise myself to spread awareness from all available sources far and wide regularly.

I am using newspapers,magazines,journals,social media,lectures in institutions to bring the breast cancer disease to light and make people realise that treatment is available and that Earlier the Better. I arrange the charitable mammography van for breast screening,also guide for Breast self examination and the clear message that all breast lumps should be taken as cancer until proved otherwise.

Hope ,my humble efforts do help the needy and make future safe .