Oncologists at a breast cancer awareness seminar held at Jahangirnagar University (JU) on Monday warned against high consumption of red meat and fast-food, which raises the risk of breast cancer.
The event, titled 'No One Should Face Breast Cancer Alone', was organised by the Public Health Forum of Department of Public Health and Informatics of JU.
Discussants at the seminar addressed the causes, treatments, and prevention strategies for breast cancer. They urged everyone to break social taboos to ensure early detection and complete treatment of breast cancer.
Professor Dr. Md. Habibullah Talukder, project coordinator of Gonoshasthaya Samaj Vittik Cancer Hospital and head of the Preventive Oncology Department, spoke as the keynote speaker at the event. He said, "Higher consumption of red meat and comparatively more body surface area elevate the risk of breast cancer. Excessive fast-food intake raises the likelihood of both breast and colon cancer. "
"A low-fiber diet and lack of exercise increase cancer risk, while a daily 30-minute walk can lower a woman's breast cancer risk by 5 per cent. Alcohol and smoking also contribute to a higher risk of cancer. Additionally, not breastfeeding raises the mother's cancer risk and weakens the child's immunity," the professor said.
He emphasised that cancer awareness is crucial, and timely consultation with a doctor is essential.
He criticised the lack of focus on cancer research across the country stating, "Cancer research within the hospital-based system in our country is severely lacking, as hospital cancer registries cannot accurately determine cancer incidence rates. There is a need for cancer registries, but policymakers have yet to implement this."
He urged the country's policymakers to address this gap.
Dr. Mohammad Kamrul Ahsan, the JU vice-chancellor, was present in the seminar as the chief guest.
"As family members, we (men) have a responsibility to support women in raising breast cancer awareness. By doing so, we can more easily overcome this issue. Beyond seminars, there should be ongoing efforts to further increase breast cancer awareness," he said.
Earlier in the morning, teachers and students took part in a breast cancer awareness rally. A day-long breast cancer screening and training session was held at the university's Wazed Mia Science Research Center.
The seminar was attended by Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Academic) Professor Dr. Mohammad Mahfuzur Rahman, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Administration) Professor Sohel Ahmed, Acting Dean of the Faculty of Biological Sciences Professor Mohammad Mafruhi Sattar, Proctor Professor Dr. A. K. M. Rashidul Alam, Dr. Mohammad Mushtuq Husain, advisor at the Institute of Epidemiology Disease Control and Research (IEDCR), and Dr. Mahfuza Mubarak, chairperson of the Public Health and Informatics Department, along with teachers and students from the department.
