By Moniba Iftikhar
ISLAMABAD, Oct 21 (APP):In an era when women use social media to challenge injustice, demand equality and shatter long-standing taboos, a troubling silence still surrounds breast health a conversation too important to be silenced by stigma, shame, or
fear.
Behind the growing voices for women’ s rights lies a painful contradiction when it comes to their own bodies, many women still struggle to speak, held back by fear, shame, and the judgment of society a silence that can cost far more than dignity; it can cost lives.
For many, the hardest part is not discovering an unusual change in their body, but finding the courage to tell someone about it. Fear of judgment, family reactions and society’s whispers can turn a potentially treatable condition into a lonely battle against uncertainty.
For a 40-year-old single mother, the possibility of breast cancer brought one question more terrifying than the disease itself: who would raise her little daughter if she were no longer alive?
When she noticed an unusual change in her breast, anxiety began to consume her. Yet, discussing the problem at home seemed almost as frightening as the possibility of a serious diagnosis.
How would she explain it to a male family member? Would her concerns be understood, or would they become the subject of gossip?.
Caught between the need for medical attention and the fear of social stigma, she struggled to speak. But whenever she looked at her daughter, the thought of leaving the child motherless became unbearable. Her daughter’s innocent affection ultimately gave her the courage to seek medical care.
She received timely treatment and continued her journey towards recovery. Today, her daughter’s laughter and embraces remain reminders of what she fought to protect. Her experience underscores a vital truth: seeking help for one’s health is not a source of shame, but an act of courage and love.
For many Pakistani women, however, the struggle extends beyond diagnosis and treatment. Oncologist Dr Saima Zahoor said social pressures can make the prospect of cancer frightening in ways that go far beyond its physical consequences.
Unmarried women may fear losing their chances of marriage, while married women worry about rejection by their husbands and the humiliation of becoming the subject of community gossip. In some families, mothers even encourage daughters to conceal their diagnosis, fearing that disclosure could jeopardize future relationships.
Dr Saima recalled cases in which women were abandoned by their husbands following a diagnosis, leaving them to cope with the emotional devastation of rejection alongside the demands of cancer treatment.
She emphasized that medical care must be accompanied by psychological and emotional support. A woman confronting a potentially life-threatening illness should not also have to defend her dignity or fight for acceptance.
While cancer threatens physical health, stigma can strip patients of the compassion and support essential to their well-being. The scale of the challenge is reflected in the figures.
Polyclinic Hospital spokesperson Dr Abdul Jabbar Bhutto said breast cancer remains a serious public health concern, with delayed diagnosis often standing between women and timely treatment.
Approximately 2.4 million women worldwide are affected annually, while this disease can affect women as young as 20, although the risk generally increases with age.
Dr Bhutto expressed concern that an estimated 60 to 70 per cent of cases in Pakistan are detected at advanced stages, when treatment becomes more complicated.
He urged families and communities to replace silence with understanding and encourage women to seek medical advice without hesitation.
Yet, a diagnosis need not mean the end of hope. Advances in medical science have transformed breast cancer treatment, particularly when the disease is identified early.
Dr Muhammad Kashif Khan, Associate Surgeon (Oncology) at the Federal Government Polyclinic Postgraduate Medical Institute (PGMI) Hospital, Islamabad, told APP that fear, hesitation and inadequate awareness frequently prevent women from consulting doctors when they notice suspicious changes.
Dr Kashif, who holds FCPS and a Fellowship in Surgical Oncology from Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital, Lahore, stressed that early diagnosis can expand treatment options, simplify care in suitable cases and improve the likelihood of successful outcomes.
He cautioned against the widespread assumption that breast cancer inevitably leads to breast removal or chemotherapy. Depending on the tumour’ s characteristics and stage, breast-conserving surgery may allow eligible patients to retain much of the breast. Chemotherapy may also be unnecessary for some patients, depending on their clinical assessment.
However, he emphasized that treatment must be tailored to each individual’s diagnosis, overall health and the anticipated benefits and risks of available therapies.
The first warning may be subtle: a lump in the breast or armpit, an alteration in breast size or shape, dimpling of the skin, unusual nipple discharge or a change in the nipple’s appearance. Although such symptoms do not always indicate cancer, Dr Kashif advised women to have them evaluated promptly rather than waiting for them to
disappear.
He also stressed the importance of understanding one’s body and recognizing changes that differ from what is normal. Breast self-awareness can help identify warning signs, but self-examination cannot reliably exclude cancer or replace professional assessment and recommended screening.
Mammography remains an important method of detecting breast cancer before symptoms become apparent. Women aged 40 and above should discuss suitable screening schedules with healthcare professionals, while those with significant family histories or other risk factors may require earlier individual assessment.
Treatment may involve surgery, radiotherapy, hormonal medicines, chemotherapy or targeted therapies, depending on the diagnosis. With appropriate care and continued medical support, many patients can manage the disease and return to fulfilling lives.
Ultimately, the battle against breast cancer must begin long before a hospital visit. It requires families willing to listen, communities prepared to challenge prejudice and a healthcare system that enables women to access timely diagnosis and treatment.
No woman should have to weigh her life against society’s approval. No daughter should risk growing up without her mother because fear prevented her from seeking help. And no patient should face abandonment when compassion is needed most.
The most dangerous silence is the one that delays a lifesaving decision. A woman who notices a change deserves medical attention, not judgment; support, not shame and the chance to live, not the burden of society’s
fear.
Source: APP (Associated Press of Pakistan)
