As per a study of the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 15,000 people are suffering from breast cancer every year in Bangladesh. More than 98 percent of them are women.
Permanent hair dye chemicals have been blamed for breast cancer, according to a recent study by the National Institute of Health (NIH). Breast cancer can be caused by a variety of genes, including the environment.
According to an International Journal of Cancer report December 2019, permanent hair dye increased the risk of breast cancer in women by almost nine percent.
In particular, women in Africa and the United States suffer from breast cancer problems more than any other regions, experts say.
According to the study, women who take permanent hair dye every 5 to 8 weeks or more are at an increased risk of developing breast cancer by 60 percent.
Semi-permanent or temporary dye, however, never falls into it. The use of these will not increase the tendency of cancer. The risk of cancer increases by 60% if the color is black. In the case of cow dye, the risk will increase by 8 percent.
However, what is to be done if use of chemicals is banned in hair dye altogether? While experts do not say anything specifically, they believe that a great deal of research is needed before taking any action.
At the same time, those who straighten hair every 5 to 8 weeks also have a 30 percent higher risk of developing breast cancer.
According to the latest report of global organization International Agency for Research and Cancer (IARC), 12,764 women in Bangladesh are surviving with cancer every year and of them, 6,844 died.
Due to social conservatism, the women in the country cannot utter the word ‘breast’ openly. If any primary symptom of breast cancer is noticed in the body, they try to keep it secret and that’s why they visit the doctors at the last stage.
The deadly ailment is diagnosed at the early stage thanks to the introduction of screening program side by side with enhancing awareness about breast cancer in recent years.
Many physicians said 90 percent of breast cancer patients could be cured through proper and complete treatment if it is detected at the primary stage.
Specialist of Bangladesh Cancer Institute Dr Habibullah Talukdar said not only females, males could also develop breast cancer.
“However, the risk in the case of women is more than men as there is a lack of awareness about breast cancer in Bangladesh,” he said.
Dr Talukdar said, “It is seen that most of those, who come to take treatment, visit the physicians at the last stage. However, if they come at the early stage, they could be cured.”
The death rate of women in breast cancer is the highest. Usually, the risk of breast cancer among the women above 50 years is more. Alongside, those whose families have a history of such a disease could be attacked by breast cancer.
So far, importance was given to make the women aware of this type of cancer, but now strong efforts are being given to alert the males. Though the chances of men developing cancer is far less.
Cancer is curable if it is detected at the early stage. But the people of the society who are suffering from cancer have to fight with the society. At this time, the sincere support of the people is very much needed, and this helps win the battle for life.
Professor Dr Nazneen Nahar of Dhaka Central International Medical College said, the risk of cancer is more among those women who give birth at older age and who don’t have any child.
For this reason, breast screening or mammograms of the women aged between 50 and 70 should be conducted every three years. In addition, this examination needs only a few minutes. Mammogram determines the condition of the breast of the women through X-ray.
Usually at the primary stage cancer remains so small that it cannot be detected from outside. However, cancer could be diagnosed through a mammogram when it remains very small or at the preliminary stage. The chance of cure of the breast cancer patient is very high if her disease is detected at the early stage.
