NewZNew (Chandigarh) : The 4th Annual Conference of the Breast Imaging Society of India (BISI) was inaugurated today at PGIMER, Chandigarh by Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Smt. Anupriya Patel. In her speech, Smt. Anupriya Patel highlighted the increasing incidence of breast cancer and related deaths in India due to lack of awareness regarding breast screening examinations and cancer detection in the advanced stages. She praised the “Asha Jyoti: Women’s Health Care Mobile Outreach Program” started by the Department of Radiodiagnosis and Imaging, PGIMER, Chandigarh in 2012 under the guidance of Prof. N. Khandelwal.
The Minister regretted that about 50% women with breast cancer are dying in India as compared to 25% breast cancer deaths worldwide. She stressed on the role of early diagnosis in prevention and treatment of breast cancer.
In his inaugural address, Prof. N. Khandelwal stressed upon the various challenges related to the early diagnosis of breast cancer and other breast diseases including the large volume of patients, inadequate imaging facilities and lack of availability of trained dedicated radiologists in the field of breast imaging. Prof. KLN Rao, Acting Director, PGIMER, Chandigarh presided over the function.
There were sessions on imaging of the breast at the mammography level. A two hour session was dedicated to image guided breast interventions which included Ultrasound guided core biopsy, Stereotactic breast biopsy and MRI Guided interventions. This was followed by hands on workshops for the delegates for these interventions in the evening. About 300 faculty and delegates from India and abroad including a team of members from Society of Breast Imaging, USA are attending the conference.
