The programme was organised by Bangladesh Cancer Foundation Hospital (BCFH) to coincide with the launching of a weeklong breast cancer screening programme (September 24 - 30).

Speaking at a large gathering at the National Press Club, Dr Md Habibullah Talukder, secretary general of BCFH, said, "We tend to ignore our own health problems until it develops into a serious problem. In fact, practice of some basic routine including self-examination to detect development of certain unusual growth or change in our body can help avoid major health crisis."

"Unfortunately, majorities of the cancer patients who come for treatment at advanced stage lack knowledge on how to perform simple but very important self-examination to detect breast cancer at premature stage. Early treatment can completely cure breast cancer but at late stage it is difficult to achieve good results even with chemotherapy combined with radiotherapy and surgical intervention as cancerous cells often spreads (metastasis) fast when there is not much options left," he added.

Dr Talukder said apart from smoking that causes lungs cancer, oral cancer is also caused by the use of tobacco products commonly found at low price.

Prof Ahmed Sayeed, head of the department of surgery of Holy Family Red Crescent Medical College and Hospital, suggested launching of massive nation-wide campaigns to make women aware of the 'self-diagnosis' for breast cancer especially at rural areas where options of clinical diagnostic tests are not widely available.

Health Minister Dr Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain said, "Generally one in every four female cancer patients suffer from breast cancer in the country. Self-examination for breast cancer could greatly benefit the patients."

State Minister for Health Mizanur Rahman Sinha, Director General of Health Services Prof Md Shahadat Hossain, Head of the radiotherapy department of Dhaka Medical College and Hospital Dr A K M Golam Mohammad, and Director of Bangladesh Cancer Foundation Mosarrat Jahan Talukder also spoke on the occasion.