New Delhi: Roko Cancer (Stop Cancer), an initiative of London based MKC trust aiming to build mass awareness and help detection of breast cancer, launched a new state-of-the-art mobile breast cancer detection unit in the capital earlier this week.

Danseuse Shovana Narain

The launch coincided with one of the largest cancer detection camps held in the capital and it saw the involvement of numerous NGO’s and social activists engaged in women’s health.

Roko held a small ceremony in the early half of the day to felicitate the supporters of the movement and breast cancer survivors. The function marked the premier of “Love for life”, a short film written and directed by Vinky Singh, featuring Pamela Chopra, a (breast) cancer survivor herself, wedded to filmmaker Yash Chopra.

The film described the importance of awareness and cure. The other key highlight of the event was a sensitively choreographed dance ensemble by acclaimed Kathak danseuse Shovana Narayan. Also present were Dr Raghu Ram, international oncoplastic breast surgeon, Dr Col C S Pant and Ritu Kumar, India’s leading fashion designer.

Dr Pant focused on preventions that every individual must take to reduce the probability of being struck by breast cancer and emphasized not to ignore any lump formation, especially if it was painful. Dr Raghu Ram addressed the gathering with enlightening information of advanced technology available today to treat breast cancer. The day-long camp included self examination, physical examination and consultation by leading physicians. There were cancer awareness sessions and free on-the-spot mammograms with reports being given before the end of the camp.

Speaking on the occasion, Isha Bhandari, director, operations, MKC Roko Charitable Trust, said “we aim to set up an individual mobile breast cancer detection unit in each state in India. Since these expensive tests are done free of cost in semi urban and rural areas, we hopes more corporates will step forward to provide assistance and help us reach out to a larger audience.”

Roko cancer mobile vans for cancer detection and free mammograms have already visited Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Andhra Pradesh and Delhi. In the last two years the trust has carried out over 2958 mammograms, of which 105 were found positive. Shortly, vans will venture into the terrains of Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, Gujarat and Maharashtra.