Rotary gifts Sri Lanka the most modern Digital Mammography machine to detect breast cancer

Screening of women for early detection of breast cancer in Sri Lanka received a major boost with the recent gifting and commissioning of the latest, state of the art Digital Mammography system valued at over Rs 100m.The equipment was a gift from the Rotary Club of Colombo, one of Sri Lanka’s premier and oldest clubs, in partnership with Rotary International District 3640, Seoul, Korea.

Today , breast cancer is on the rise with an incidence of over 5000 cases annually, with many in the late stages of cancer . Breast cancer accounts for over 25% of all cancers and is the leading cause of death in females in the 40-55 age group. This new Digital machine which replaces the previous analog machine, will now enable the confirmation of diagnosis , and expedite the screening and early detection process whilst ensuring greater accuracy and efficiency, and being able to detect around 20- 80% more invasive cancers as well. It’s a big break- through for cancer early detection in Sri Lanka.

The machine will be located at the Cancer Prevention and Early Detection Centre in Narahenpita. Rotary’s landmark project to screen women free of charge goes back almost 20 years. Over this period over 80,000 women have been screened free of charge, and several non conformities detected at an early stage when it is very treatable. Rotary works in close partnership with the National Cancer Control Programme of the Ministry of Health. Together they have greatly succeeded in bringing down the rising incidence of breast cancer, through screening and early detection.

Cancer Early Detection Project Committee members and Rotarian Donors from
Rotary Club of Colombo

The Hologic Dimensions-6000 fully Digital Mammography System with 3D Tomosynthesis was handed over to Director NCCP, Dr Eshani Fernando , in the presence of Senior Official from the Ministry of Health, Secretary Mr Janaka Chandraguptha and Rotary District and Club hierarchy in Sri Lanka.

The new machine enables timely follow up treatment or even a complete cure, thus making this a very valuable contribution in uplifting the health of women in Sri Lanka, whilst saving many thousand lives every year, otherwise lost through late detection.