With incidences of breast cancer on the rise in India in recent years, advanced and state-of-the-art diagnostic techniques have acquired a lot of importance as early detection of cancer provides an 80 per cent chance of survival.
With the objective of creating awareness about the latest advances in the field of imaging, which forms a vital part of diagnostics, the Kovai Medical Center and Hospital (KMCH) has joined hands with Massachusetts General Hospital in the U.S., which was the primary teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School and a biomedical research facility located in Boston, to host a two-day conference that began on Saturday.
A total of six doctors from Massachusetts General Hospital are addressing the “Women’s Imaging in Oncology’’ conference through videoconferencing, in addition to leading practitioners in India, said Nalla G. Palaniswami, chairman of KMCH, at a press conference here on Saturday.
Mathew P. Cherian, Chief of Radiology Services, KMCH, said that this outreach programme was likely to become an annual event.
Mortality rates
Mansi Saksena, Radiologist, Massachusetts General Hospital, and an expert in breast imaging, said that women in India must overcome cultural sensitivities and undergo frequent check ups. Even though the number of breast cancer cases reported in India was lower than the U.S. or China, the mortality rates were higher.
“As much as in 80 per cent of breast cancer cases, there is no family history. The best defence for women is early detection through regular screening,” she added.
Dr. Susanna Lee, an expert on abdominal imaging, and Rupa Renganathan, conference organising chairperson and secretary, also spoke.
