IT was International Women’s Day on March 8 and on  cricketer Yuvraj Singh’s YouWeCan Foundation sponsored a series of early detection and regular screening camps across Goa. The YouWeCan  initiatives were organized in partnership with the SBI Foundation and the government of Goa at six locations. On March 8 & 9 there was a mega breast cancer screening camp at Asilo Hospital, North Goa District Hospital in Mapusa, reportedly 350 to 400 women were screened for early signs of breast cancer.

More exciting was a Ride for Cancer bike rally on March 12 flagged off by Health Minister Vishwajit Rane. The rally was to spread awareness amongst women about how to recognise seemingly small signs which could spell out cancer in the short or long run…early warning signs range from lumps in breast tissue, a change in size or shape of breast, dimpling of breast skin, inverted nipples, textural changes like scaling or inflammation or orange peel like changes in skin in the vicinity of the breasts or underarms.

It’s best to rule out cancer because young and not so young women tend to neglect early warning signs of breast cancer which sees statistics alarming enough to worry about in Goa.    

The breast cancer awareness and screening camps went a long way in raising consciousness on the subject of cancer for there were also interactions with doctors, organizers and participants. No woman needs to be afraid of breast cancer nowadays. With early detection a cure is practically 100%!