Rotary fights breast cancer with NCCP through early detection and prevention

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month—a time to come together not only to acknowledge a disease that affects millions but to celebrate the resilience of women and the power of early detection to save lives.With a long-standing partnership of 20 years with the National Cancer Control Programme, Rotary Club of Colombo members came out in their numbers to create awareness and joined the recent NCCP Breast Cancer Awareness Walk on October 2nd.

It is a time to reaffirm our collective responsibility toward the well-being of our mothers, sisters and daughters and those thousands of women who may one day be struck down by this disease if not detected early.

Rotary has been a beacon of hope in the fight against breast cancer, working hand-in-hand with the Ministry of Health for 20 years since 2004. This partnership with the National Cancer Control Programme has been instrumental in addressing breast cancer, which remains the leading cause of death among women aged 40 to 55 years.

Rotary’s journey began 20 years ago with the sole focus on screening and early detection and prevention to fight the rising incidence of cancer. Together with NCCP they set up a dedicated Cancer Screening and Early Detection Centre focused on breast cancer, first in Colombo and then extended to other cities to ensure no woman is left behind. These regional Breast Cancer Early Detection Clinics will bring lifesaving services closer to those who need them most.

Rotary Club of Colombo has led the way in the screening and early detection of breast cancer and invested in state-of-the-art technology at the main Cancer Early Detection Centre in Narahenpita run by NCCP, including installing a 3D tomosynthesis Digital Mammography Machine. This machine provides highly accurate screenings for breast cancer, five days a week, entirely free of charge. This represents Rotary’s unwavering commitment to ensuring early detection, which is key to improving breast cancer survival rates.

Rotary Club of Colombo was also a pioneer in introducing HPV DNA testing at the Centre for cervical cancer screening —an initiative that highlights their approach to tackling women’s cancers holistically.