Neena* was diagnosed with Breast Cancer at the age of 18. Without even realising that a small lump in her breast could be cancerous, she was financially burdened by treatments which cost close to Rs 4-5 lakhs. Belonging to a poor family, she didn’t have access to good medical services which eventually led to her demise. 

On the other hand, Ritu*, is 35 and has a 10 year old daughter, was recently diagnosed with breast cancer. She was devastated knowing about her disease because of the large chunk of money she had to arrange for her surgery for removal of the cancerous lump. 

Both Neena and Ritu's stories have shook me deeply considering the financial burden due to cancer and how it took a toll on them.  

According to data by AIIMS Patna, it is projected that breast cancer cases will reach 250,000 by 2030, with approximately 182,000 cases of breast cancer in India in 2022. In 2020 alone, more than 2 lakh women were diagnosed and 75,000 women died because of breast cancer in India.   

Many women like Neena gave up and lost lives due to inaccessibility to healthcare services including breast cancer treatments. Cancer is one such disease the earlier it is diagnosed, the better it can be treated. 

High proportion of cases continue to be detected at late stages for Breast Cancer in India. The issue of high disease burden is compounded with late-stage detection caused mainly due to lack of awareness and low penetration of screening programmes in states.

I have started this petition because early detection and awareness about breast cancer can save the lives of many women. 

Please sign my petition asking Mr Arvind Kejriwal, CM-Delhi and Satyendra Jain, Health Minister-Delhi to do the following: 

1. Provide awareness and low-cost screening of Breast Cancer in Mohalla Clinics
2. Add treatment of Breast Cancer in the list of services/treatments in Mohalla Clinics/Mahila Mohalla Clinics 

While Mohalla Clinics are providing healthcare services to thousands of people, they can easily provide screening and treatment of Breast Cancer.  Please sign and share this petition so that NO Woman loses her life due to breast cancer. 

#LoveYourBreasts 

#BreatCancerAwareness

 (*Name Changed to protect identity)

Picture Credit: DNA India