“Men in our society need to talk about breast cancer openly”: Mahira Khan
Mahira Khan has been affiliated with the breast cancer awareness programme organised by Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital Research Centre (SKMCH), for the past ten years.
Pakistan has the highest number of breast cancer cases out of all the South Asian countries. Around 40,000 people get affected by this disease every year. According to BMC Public Health, “One in every 9 women in Pakistan has a lifetime risk of being diagnosed with breast cancer”.
Mahira Khan has taken the initiative of raising awareness related to breast cancer in our society which is often taken as a taboo.
Recently, during an interview, The Maula Jatt actress said, “It’s been 10 years since I have been working with Shaukat Khanum Memorial hospital for breast cancer awareness. So, whenever anyone approaches me with the same thought, I am readily onboard. But the difference between girls and women of now and ten years ago is visible. The understanding of the disease, the precautions, the awareness, the know-how of the symptoms – I feel like we have made a difference”.
Talking about the shame attached to Breast Cancer in our society, Mahira said, “There’s more awareness now. People talk about breast cancer. Do you know, earlier people wouldn’t even talk about this because there’s a certain shame attached to breast cancer? They were irked by the word breast itself. They used to feel shame. This is an issue we have faced time and again. The shame. I want to ask the reason – breast is just another body part”.
Mahira Khan further added, “It’s very important for people in Pakistan to realise that one out of every nine women in the country is affected by it. That’s a very big number. I think it’s imperative for everyone to talk about this. We should raise awareness about the disease. It’s also very important for the men in our family to talk about it openly. The problem really arises when women can’t speak because they are afraid of what their husbands, brothers, and their sons might think”.
Talking about the precautionary measures related to Breast Cancer, “I have said it before and I am saying it again: self-examination is the key. You have everything at your fingertips. Educate yourself. Be aware”.
