Thiruvananthapuram: Since Kerala reports the highest number of breast cancer cases in the country there is a need to step up awareness programmes focusing on effective preventive measures, Minister for Higher Education and Social Justice Dr. R. Bindu has said.
The Minister was inaugurating the month-long ‘Breast health awareness and genetic testing campaign’, organised by SAGENOME’s Gene Valley Campus here, starting from the International Women’s Day on Thursday.
“According to studies, one among 28 women in Kerala is diagnosed with breast cancer. So, it is important to focus on developing and spreading effective preventive measures to beat breast cancer”, Dr Bindu said.
Lauding the efforts of SAGENOME in promoting painless and side-effect-free diagnosing methods, the Minister noted that the health sector is one major area where the full potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) can be put to good use. Also, women should make use of the advanced diagnosing methods, she said.
Dr Bindu also praised the activities of SAGENOME, a technology-driven, genome-based wellness enterprise that uses saliva to analyse a person’s genetic disposition to predict a critical disease to which the individual is prone and preventing it through precision medicine, as exemplary.
“In Kerala, the scope of genome studies has to be further widened. Though the State has limited opportunities in the field, currently, Kerala University and Technical University offer courses related to genome studies. By initiating the possibilities of genome studies in detecting disease, SAGENOME succeeded in exploring the potentials of the field”, she added.
Presiding over the function, SAGENOME Chairman Dr M Ayyappan who is also the former CMD of HLL Lifecare Limited (HLL), said, 25 per cent of cancers diagnosed in women are breast cancer.
“Through the campaigns of SAGENOME we aim to create awareness for early detection and treatment of breast cancer. Also, our diagnostic methods are mostly effortless and painless. With the early detection of breast cancer, it is easier to treat and get cured”, he said.
Besides the painless and radiation free e-breast diagnostic method, the month-long campaign also aims at early detection of breast cancer through genetic tests like BRCA1 and BRCA2, Dr Ayyappan added.
Health Services Joint Director, Dr Viswanathan, in his keynote address said regardless of age, women are being increasingly diagnosed with breast cancer nowadays. Studies suggest that obesity during adolescence is one of the main causes of this. Also, women should be given proper awareness about the disease as well as its diagnostic methods. And they should realise that all breast lumps are not signs of cancer.
Dr Radhika Rajan spoke about the benefits of iBreastExam device, a handheld device that helps women in self-detecting breast abnormalities. Unlike screening methods like mammography, the iBreastExam device aids in the painless detection of breast abnormalities. Also, the early diagnosis of ovarian and breast cancer through the genetic test will reduce the risk by ensuring treatment at an early stage, she noted.
Dr Sreekumar, Smt Anitha Unnithan, Shri Radhakrishnan Unnithan, and Dr Dinesh Roy also attended the function.
