5,500 new cases of breast cancer diagnosed in 2023

National Cancer Control Programme community health specialist Dr. Hasareli Fernando said that 5,500 new cases of breast cancer were diagnosed in Sri Lanka last year. Among these, 125 were men, while the rest – 5,375 – were women.

Dr. Fernando shared this information during a media briefing held at the Health Promotion Bureau yesterday (25). She said that the theme for this year’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month is ‘No One Should Face Breast Cancer Alone’, with October designated as Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

A series of awareness programmes aimed at preventing breast cancer will be implemented throughout the month of October. Dr. Fernando emphasised that breast cancer is completely curable if detected early, but noted that approximately 1,000 women die annually from the disease in Sri Lanka.

She also mentioned that Sri Lanka’s breast cancer mortality rate is higher than in many other countries due to late detection. Dr. Fernando identified several risk factors for breast cancer, including family history of the disease, being over 50 years old, obesity, substance abuse, and not having children.

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