Kathmandu Metropolitan City Launches Free Breast, Uterine, and Cervical Cancer Screening in Collaboration with Bir Hospital

Kathmandu. The Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) has started screening for women's breast, uterine, and cervical cancer in collaboration with Bir Hospital starting today. On the first day, 136 people obtained referral slips from the Health Promotion Center for testing at Bir Hospital. Among them, 5 individuals have a family history of breast cancer and 3 have a family history of cervical cancer. 

During the inauguration, KMC Acting Mayor Sunita Dangol also underwent a health check-up. 

Speaking on the occasion, she stated, 'If not detected in time, cancer takes lives. It weakens the financial condition and the family. If cancer is detected and managed in time through testing, the treatment becomes simpler and less expensive. Lives can be saved.' 

She further emphasized education and awareness, saying, 'Women at home worry about whether family members will fall ill. But they do not take care to get themselves tested. Therefore, I request women to take care of their own health as well.' 

Acting Mayor Dangol stated that the KMC is trying to reduce potential risks by encouraging as many women as possible to undergo cancer screening, as cancer can cause difficulties for the family and financial situation well into the future. 

Prof. Dr. Bhupendra Kumar Basnet, Vice-Chancellor of the Medical Education Commission, noted that cancer has become frightening because it was not identified in time previously, and mentioned that the KMC prioritizing cancer identification in its program holds great significance in solving the problem. Executive Director Prof. Dr. Dilip Sharma mentioned that they always support the programs run by the KMC and stated that exemplary work has begun in the areas of women's breast, uterine, and cervical cancer. 

Sharing her experience with cancer treatment, Sasmita Karki Thapa said at the program, 'I used to have frequent urinary tract infections. Sometimes my menstruation would be irregular. I never considered this a problem. When the doctor informed me I had cancer, initially, I didn't believe it. When the time came to accept it, I became very scared. I didn't think I would survive. I only cared about my children. I wished I could have more children and see them educated a little before dying. But, as the treatment progressed, I was able to survive. Doctors truly are like gods. The cancer screening program brought by the KMC is truly a great endeavor. Those who are affected know how much encouragement even small support provides to a person with cancer to survive. We should be very grateful to the Mayor of the KMC.' 

Sharing her treatment experience, Bimala Paudel said, 'My test came back positive during screening. Since it was detected at the first stage, my treatment was smooth, and now I am negative. If I hadn't gotten tested earlier, I might be in a debilitated state now. I thank Kathmandu Metropolitan City and Bir Hospital for giving me this life.' 

Dr. Sandhya Chapagain, a cancer specialist at Bir Hospital, says, 'When testing for cervical cancer, many women and their family members get scared upon finding out they are HPV positive. However, being HPV positive does not mean having cancer. It indicates a risk of developing cancer due to infection.' She added, 'There are many aspects regarding cancer that need awareness expansion at the community level.' 

Previously, testing for women's cervical cancer only screened for HPV 16 and HPV 18. Last year, HPV 16 and 18 were not detected in 98 individuals tested. Therefore, this year's testing preparation includes screening for HPV 6, HPV 11, HPV 16, HPV 18, HPV 31, HPV 33, HPV 45, HPV 52, and HPV 58, informed Prakash Nepal, Head of the Bir Hospital Laboratory. 

Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia (CIN) is the early stage of cancer. This stage has three grades: the first grade is called CIN One, the second is CIN Two, and the third is CIN Three. 

If the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) persists for 5 to 10 years, there is a risk of cervical cancer. Women in the 30 to 60 age group should get tested once every 5 years. 

Women who have had sexual contact with more than one man, had sexual contact under the age of 16, had sexual contact within the first year of menstruation, have sexually transmitted infections like HIV, have been found to have Human Papillomavirus (HPV), smoke, have a weakened immune system, have been pregnant multiple times, or have never been screened, are at a higher risk of developing cervical cancer.