With Chandigarh sharing the dubious distinction of being highest in the district-wise incidence of breast cancer in the country, the UT Administration has decided to procure special Rs 1-crore machinery which will help in detecting cancer. According to the Administration, Delhi has the highest Age Adjusted Rate (AAR) in the country on the incidence of breast cancer (as per the National Cancer Registry of the ICMR).

“However, the district-wise comparisons of Minimum Age Adjusted Incidence Rates (MAARs) shows that at least four districts led by Chandigarh (followed by North Goa, Aizawl in Mizoram and Panchkula in Haryana) had higher MAAR than that of Delhi,” stated the Administration adding that it clearly depicts that Chandigarh has a much higher incidence of breast cancer as compared to all other districts in the country.

With the statistics in place, the Chandigarh Administration has approved to procure a vehicle costing approximately Rs 1 crore which will have in-built facilities for mammography, taking sample for FNAC and automatic processor for development of the mammography film. A team of medical persons as well as motivated women, possibly a group of breast cancer survivors in the form of organisations, would also be a part of running and putting to use the equipment.