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Page 27
Volume 1
Journal of Blood Disorders and Treatment
World Hematology 2018
October 22-23, 2018
October 22-23, 2018 Warsaw, Poland
10
th
World
Hematology and Oncology Congress
J Blood Disord Treat 2018, Volume 1
Access to health-breast cancer awareness and screening camps in rural India
Gunjan Bhardwaj
European Business School-University of Business and Law, Germany
B
reast cancer is the most common cancer of urban Indian women and the second most common in rural women. Owing to lack
of awareness of the disease in India and in absence of breast cancer screening programs, majority of breast cancers are diagnosed
at a relatively advanced stage. Government agencies, NGOs and charity organizations have put great emphasis on improved breast
cancer awareness among masses for promotion of early detection, providing comprehensive treatment module, providing support for
breast cancer management and for screening and rehabilitation. In rural areas, there is still a lack of good health care and awareness
among masses regarding the importance of early breast cancer screening and thus cases of late diagnosis are more prevalent. The
other common factors that lead to late diagnosis include delays on the part of womenfolk of rural areas to seek advice for a recognized
health problem which is mainly due to financial reasons, social/cultural reasons such as general inhibition of women to see the
doctor for breast ailments, general scare of people towards cancer like disorders and a general indifference of women towards their
health. In rural areas Illiteracy is widespread and also people are inhibited and not motivated to come to the hospitals for screening/
checkup. Considering various factors of cancer incidence rate, to address the most common barriers such as lower cancer literacy,
lesser availability and accessibility of proper medical facilities, three Indian states were shortlisted to initiate the project ECHO by
organizing breast cancer awareness and screening programs for rural and semi-urban Indian population. In addition to being a CSR
approach, project ECHO also increased the cancer literacy amongst the rural population and emphasized on health education, early
diagnosis of breast cancers and more public facilities for breast cancer treatments.
abhinav.chaturvedi@innoplexus.com