By: Dr.Zoya Ahmed
ISLAMABAD:Behind every breast cancer statistic is a woman’s journey: the moment she notices a lump, the decision to seek help, the treatment she undergoes, and, for many, the day she completes that journey as a survivor.
At the Atomic Energy Cancer Hospital, Nuclear Medicine, Oncology and Radiotherapy Institute (AECH-NORI), the rising numbers tell a story of both challenge and hope. More women are coming forward for breast screening, and more cancers are being detected at earlier, more treatable stages-signs that awareness campaigns are beginning to make a difference.
Between January 2021 and June 2026, NORI registered 7,513 new breast cancer patients, including 7,428 women and 85 men. While breast cancer is far more common among women, doctors stress that men can develop it too and should not ignore warning signs.
In 2025 alone, the hospital treated 1,360 breast cancer patients. Of these, 891(roughly two-third)have completed treatment and are now on follow-up, while 469 remain on their treatment journey as “cancer warriors.” Their experiences underline the importance of early detection and timely treatment.
More women are being screened but late presentation is still a challenge
NORI’s breast screening service examined a total of 2477 women from 2024-2026.757 women in 2024 and 842 in 2025, an increase of about 11 percent. By the time data for this report was compiled, another 878 women had been screened in 2026, although the year is not yet over.
The stage at which women are being diagnosed is also improving. In 2021, 32.5 percent of breast cancer patients presented at Stage I or II. That proportion rose to 34.4 percent in 2022, 38.3 percent in 2023 and 39.7 percent in 2024, reaching 46 percent in 2025.
Over the same period, the share of patients arriving at Stage III or IV fell from 67.5 percent to 53.9 percent. Despite this progress, many women still present with advanced disease, underscoring the need for awareness efforts to continue and expand.
We at NORI,believe this steady improvement is linked to growing awareness, self-examination and earlier screening.
Breast Cancer Registry NORI
Breast screening must begin earlier
Age related data further underline the need for earlier awareness and screening. Of the 1,360 patients registered in 2025, 400 were in their forties, 381 in their fifties, 173 in their thirties and 20 in their twenties.
Nearly 44 percent of patients were under 50. This highlights the need for women,particularly those with a family history of breast or other cancersto be aware of warning signs well before middle age and to seek timely medical advice.
A growing global and national burden
The importance of sustained awareness campaigns is reflected in global and national figures. GLOBOCAN 2024 estimated more than 2.4 million new breast cancer cases worldwide, making breast cancer the most common cancer among women in 164 of 186 countries.
Breast cancer is also the most frequently diagnosed cancer among Pakistani women. The PAEC Cancer Registry shows its share of all cancers in women rising from 39.5 percent in 2015-2017 to 42.2 percent in 2020-21.
Studies and registry data suggest that roughly one in eight Pakistani women may develop breast cancer during her lifetime, underlining the scale of the challenge.
The risk is growing-but so, encouragingly, is the number of women who know what to look for and when to seek help.
A shared responsibility
Breast screening services are available at NORI all year round through a dedicated breast cancer clinic.Women are assessed by a female oncologist,with mammography performed by a female technologist and sonomammography by a female radiologist,ensuring a comfortable screening experience.
During Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October, NORI’s campaigns urged women to know their bodies, report any lump or change without delay, and undergo screening when advised.
NORI’s breast cancer awareness campaign comprised seminars, academic lectures, and separate awareness sessions for male and female patients and their attendants. These activities aimed to encourage women to recognize early warning signs, seek timely screening and treatment, while also involving families and male relatives in supporting women’s access to care.
NORI uses simple and practical communication tools of health education to make breast cancer information accessible to general public.These include brochures and as easy to understand video on breast self-examination.By using simple and practical communication tools,
Through continued community engagement, NORI hopes to reduce late presentation and help more women begin their cancer journey early enough to win it.
Breast cancer awareness is not the responsibility of health professionals alone.Families,community leaders and the media all have a role to play in encouraging women to prioritise their health.
The message is simple: the earlier a woman reaches a doctor, the shorter and easier her battle becomes,and the greater is her chanceof winning it.
Sources: GLOBOCAN 2024, PAEC Cancer Registry2017-2019,2020-2021, AECH-NORI electronic patient records.
