They also urged women to be conscious about the matter and breastfeed their children to reduce the risk of the disease.
The speakers came up with the remarks at a roundtable discussion organised jointly by Bangladesh Breast Cancer Awareness Forum (BBCAF) and Rotary International District at the Jatiya Press Club.
The discussion was part of their month-long nationwide campaign to create social movement against breast cancer marking the Breast Cancer Awareness Month observed in October.
The two organisations are scheduled to observe the Breast Cancer Awareness Day on October 10.
Citing a report of International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), Dr Md Habibullah Talukdi Ruskin, convener of the programme, said around 12,764 women are affected by breast cancer in Bangladesh every year. “The number is on the rise. But the affected women remain silent due to shyness. As a result, they don’t get proper treatment.”
If anyone gets proper treatment at the primary stage, she can fully recover from the disease, he said, adding that they want to create social awareness about the disease among people of all classes so that they can take steps against it.
Dr Sabera Khatun, Professor of Gynaecological Oncology at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), was also present.