The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) reports that 75% of cancer patients in Pakistan are diagnosed when the disease has already reached stage three or four. At an international conference organized by the Society of Medical Oncology Pakistan (SMOP), health experts stressed that late detection leaves doctors with very limited options to save patients.
Cancer Statistics
Breast cancer makes up 31% of female cancers in Pakistan. It is followed by head and neck cancers (8.6%), lung cancer (5.6%), and colorectal cancer (5.1%). Health Services Academy Vice Chancellor Professor Shahzad Ali Khan explained that early detection is critical. “Cancer survival depends entirely on how early it is treated. For example, breast cancer survival is as high as 99% in stage one but drops drastically in later stages,” he said.
Cost of Late Detection
When cancer is diagnosed late, families often spend huge amounts trying to save patients, but treatment options remain limited. Current data shows that only 3% of patients in Pakistan are diagnosed at an early, curable stage.
Lack of Specialized Facilities
Khan highlighted that Atomic Energy Commission centers cannot serve as replacements for specialized oncology hospitals. Pakistan lacks a modern public-sector cancer hospital. “For every million people, there is only one oncologist,” he noted. He added that even increasing the number of doctors will not solve the problem if most patients continue to arrive in stage three or four.
Prevention and Awareness
Khan stressed the importance of preventive lifestyle changes. Poor diet, lack of exercise, high stress, and sleep problems are major contributors to cancer. “If we fail to address these risk factors, the cancer crisis will only worsen,” he warned.
Call for Change
He also criticized the practice of holding cancer-related discussions in five-star hotels. He called it “hypocrisy” to talk about poor patients in luxury settings. Instead, he offered the facilities of the Health Services Academy free of charge for future events.
