If you are a woman or you have a woman in your life who you love we assume that you would like to know about breast cancer. Here is the good news and some myth-busting wisdom.

• We’ve come a long way: Dr Rufina Soomro, a breast surgeon at Liaquat National Hospital, says that when she tried to share breast-cancer awareness videos 20 years ago the censor board in Islamabad shot them down. But today, Pakistanis get a public service message on breast cancer when they make a phone call. Now that’s called progress.

• 2 reasons we may be getting it: Breast cancer is a female hormone dependent tumour. We eat a lot of meat. All our chicken are given hormones to grow. We’re exposed to pesticides, chemicals. These are possibly reasons, says Dr Rufina. Then Pakistan has a high intermarriage rate. And breast cancer is transmitted genetically. So you can imagine that we are passing it on constantly down the line.

• Some things are free: Every Wednesday JPMC in Karachi has a free breast clinic. Up to 70 patients go there each time. “Sab se bari sifarish is your beemari,” said Dr. Ghansham Rotani, a general surgeon at JPMC, while explaining how they ensure serious patients are not made to wait in line.

• Get tested: Very few women are showing up with early stages of breast cancer. Far too many are coming to doctors with advanced cases. More young women are coming with advanced breast cancer and they have a more aggressive form.

• Biopsy is your friend: A big myth is that cancer will spread if you get a biopsy. Prof. Dr. Muhammad Iqbal Khan, Head of Surgery at JPMC, explained that they have to

• Cysts are not simple: Having a cyst doesn’t mean you have breast cancer, but you should investigate. If you have a cyst you generally consider it harmless. If you see suspicious material in the cyst you investigate.

For the full video on the discussion on breast cancer that took place at JPMC in Karachi with a panel of experts, hit us up on YouTube where the episode of Sawal he Pakistan Ka will be posted after 7pm Friday.