Hemas Hospital Wattala introduces one-stop breast cancer prevention and treatment centre

Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer among women in Sri Lanka and the world over, and if detected at the early stages the type of cancer that can be nipped in the bud with proper treatment and care.

As the cancer incidence report for 2010 by the National Cancer Control Programme revealed, one in eight women in the country has a probability of being detected with some form of complication related to breasts and one in 40 is susceptible to breast cancer.

As common as it is, the amount of awareness among women about breast cancer is believed to be low and as a way of countering this matter, Hemas Hospital Wattala has come forward with a service of offering free screening to women not just during October but all throughout the year, free of charge.
The comprehensive one-stop centre was launched with the intention of early detection and protecting women against the devastating effects of breast cancer, which is a common yet silent enemy of the woman – the mother, sister and care-taker – who is regarded as the heart of any family and backbone of the country’s economy.

Through the Comprehensive Breast Cancer Prevention Centre at Hemas Hospital Wattala, females are availed the option of receiving a free Physical check-up and if physical examination alarms any vital and malignant signs the patient is offered with best initial diagnosis tools such as Ultra Sound Scan for breasts or a Mammogram. If the patient is diagnosed with any positive malignant symptoms, necessary treatments will be carried out by a multi-disciplinary panel of expert professionals comprising a consultant oncologist, radiologist, surgeons, histopathologist and 
a psychologist.

Hemas Hospital Wattala has the latest, state-of-the-art equipment to carry out diagnosis and treatment at the new, enhanced centre which is managed and maintained by specially trained nursing staff. Breast cancer can be diagnosed via triple assessment comprising clinical history and examination, radiological assessment and cyto/hitological assessment. 95 percent of the time, if diagnosed at the right time, proper treatment including breast conserving surgical procedures can be performed.

Commenting on the Comprehensive Breast Cancer Prevention and Treatment Centre and the special multi-disciplinary team approach, Hemas Hospital Wattala, Visiting Consultant and General Surgeon, Dr. Nissanka Jayawardhana said: “Due to the abundance of awareness campaigns and literature in the public domain, women in developed countries have a tendency to get themselves checked and take necessary precautions in relation to breast cancer, as opposed to local females who are more reluctant either due to lack of awareness or access. Starting with own staff Hemas Hospital Wattala has made the breast cancer screening a free service not just during October but throughout the year allowing proactive preventive care.”

Hemas Wattala Director/General Manager Dr. Lasantha Karunasekara said: “Hemas Hospitals in our quest to enriching millions of life’s has taken this initiative as a social responsibility, would like to invite females ideally over 35 years or younger, especially if they have a family history of breast cancer, to get themselves initially screened by a team of trained doctors for breast cancer and further investigated if necessary.”

He reiterated that this devastating disease affects the ‘mother’ of the family with tremendous socio-cultural, economical, psychological effects on all family members can be managed and cured if detected early.