CHANDIGARH, 23.09.25-The Department of General Surgery (Division of Endocrine & Breast Surgery Unit) at the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, organized a powerful public awareness forum today under the national campaign “**Swasth Nari, Sashakt Parivar Abhiyaan.” **The initiative focused on educating the community about breast cancer prevention, early detection, and timely treatment, underscoring PGIMER’s commitment to women’s health and family well-being.

The program, held at the Surgery OPD, featured insightful sessions by eminent faculty members who emphasized that early detection and regular screening remain the strongest weapons in the battle against breast cancer.

Addressing the gathering, **Prof. Divya Dahiya, Head, Division of Endocrine & Breast Surgery Unit, PGIMER, **stated:, “ Breast cancer continues to be the most common cancer among women in India. At PGIMER alone, we have seen admissions for breast surgery rise from 223 cases in 2022 to 269 in 2023, and 303 in 2024. This steady increase is an alarming reminder of the growing burden. Yet, it is also among the most treatable cancers when diagnosed at an early stage. Awareness, regular self-examination, and timely screening are the first steps towards saving lives.”

Adding to this, Dr. Ishita Laroiya remarked:“The essence of the Swasth Nari, Sashakt Parivar Abhiyaan is empowerment. By equipping women with knowledge and tools for self-care—be it breast self-examination, timely check-ups, or adopting preventive practices—we can reverse these rising numbers and ensure stronger, healthier families.”

The forum concluded with an interactive Q&A session, where participants actively engaged with experts on mammography, lifestyle modifications, and risk-reduction strategies.

This initiative reinforces PGIMER’s unwavering commitment to raising awareness, fostering preventive practices, and ensuring timely treatment of breast cancer—an essential step towards building healthier women and stronger families.