Early Diagnosis Crucial in Combating Breast Cancer: Ernakulam District Collector G. Priyanka

KOCHI: Early detection and timely diagnosis are paramount in the fight against breast cancer, stated Ernakulam District Collector and Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) Managing Director G. Priyanka. She was inaugurating a breast cancer awareness initiative organized by VPS Lakeshore Hospital at the Jawaharlal Nehru (JLN) Stadium Metro Station in Kochi. Highlighting that government agencies are actively driving awareness campaigns, she emphasized that early diagnosis significantly enhances recovery rates. She also urged the public to adopt healthy lifestyle practices—including stress management, balanced nutrition, adequate sleep, daily physical exercise, reduced exposure to harmful chemicals, and maintaining strong social connections—to safeguard overall well-being.

Presiding over the event, Abhishek Poduri, CEO of VPS Lakeshore Group, remarked that spreading proper awareness and enabling early screening can drive transformative outcomes in cancer care, adding that such grassroots initiatives possess the potential to save countless lives. Delivering the keynote medical address, Dr. K. Chitrathara, Director and Head of Gynecological, Surgical Oncology & Breast Sciences, VPS Lakeshore, stressed that breast cancer is both preventable and fully curable when detected early through routine screening. Noting the rising incidence of the disease, she explained that since multiple lifestyle and biological factors contribute to its development, early screening remains the most effective line of defense. The event also featured addresses by Sanjay Kumar (Director – Systems, KMRL), T.C. Johnson (GM – Operations & Maintenance, KMRL), and Muralikrishnan (Chief Manager – Marketing, KMRL). Dr. Mariya Varghese (Chief of Medical Services, VPS Lakeshore) delivered the welcome address, while T. Anilkumar (Corporate Communications Manager, VPS Lakeshore) proposed the vote of thanks.