Rotary Colombo joins hands with NCCP to fight breast cancer through early detection and prevention

October is designated as ‘Breast Cancer Awareness Month’, worldwide. Cancer ranks among the three leading Non Communicable Diseases (NCD)in Sri Lanka and is on the rise with over 15,000-20,000 new cases detected every year.  Breast cancer has the highest incidence among all cancers and is the leading cancer among females in Sri Lanka.

16 years ago, the Rotary Club of Colombo, launched their life saving project in partnership with the National Cancer Control Programme, for free screening and early detection of cancer, with a focus on early detection of breast cancer which accounts for over 25% of all cancers in Sri Lanka. According to studies, 30-40% of cancers can be prevented, and another one third cured with screening, early detection and timely follow up treatment. This would mean saving several thousand lives every year. Todate almost 80000 individuals , mainly women , have been screened, with over 18000 showing abnormalities requiring further investigation- these are all cases which may otherwise have gone undetected until the late stages where the chances of being saved would then be greatly reduced.

The Centre operates a comprehensive cancer screening facility complete with a mammography machine and ultra sound scanner donated by the Rotary Club of Birmingham Alabama, USA. A radiographer is also available at the Centre to operate this facility. Cervical cancer is screened through a HPV/DNA testing machine funded by The Rotary Foundation USA. The Centre is presently seeking a donor for a colposcopy machine to replace the existing machine used for diagnostic screening of cervical cancer which has the second highest incidence of cancers in females. The Centre also operates an oral cancer screening unit for detection of oral cancer, in view of this cancer having the highest incidence among males.

Education and awareness building activities are also carried out by a Health Education Unit in the Centre, aimed at early detection through screening and the prevention of cancer through healthy life style. This is supported by a mobile screening unit operating islandwide. Meanwhile counselling is also undertaken for those cases diagnosed positive.

The Cancer Prevention and Early Detection Centre is presently the only national facility dedicated for screening,  early detection and prevention of cancer, offering its services entirely free of charge to the public.The Centre is supported by leading telecommunication provider and Corporate Partner Dialog Axiata PLC.

Due to the rapidly rising numbers seeking screening, as well as the need to expand and upgrade the present screening facilities, the Rotary Club of Colombo requires to relocate the Centre in a permanent, more spacious building in the same area, now well known for cancer screening and which provides easy access and visibility to those coming from near and far to seek the services of this life saving facility. This is presently a pressing and urgent priority for the project.

Once a new building is in place, the numbers screened and lives saved through early detection and prevention activities, could be greatly increased. Meanwhile the Club, together with NCCP, extended breast cancer screening and early detection facilities 4 years ago, to the outlying regions commencing with a Breast Cancer Early Detection Unit at Kurunegala Teaching Hospital with equipment funded by The Rotary Foundation. This will enable the community in that area and surrounding regions, particularly the less privileged, to have greater accessibility to this life saving service.

Contact details as follows:

Tel : 0113159227

Email – cedc. nccp@gmail.com