Around five percent of teachers who had themselves screened for breast and cervical cancer at St. Joseph’s College Bandarawela two months ago were detected with the disease and 20 per cent of the positive cases were in the first stages of the affliction.

Five hundred teachers were tested in Bandarawela. Another screening programme had been conducted in Mahiyangana on Sunday (30), where there were 100 teachers who had come for screening, Ministry spokesman said.

The spokesman said that over 1,500 patients with breast or cervical cancers die each year. Five thousand to ten thousand women are detected with breast or cervical cancers annually. Most women – especially teachers don’t have the time or are afraid of the consequences in case they are found positive. Therefore when the cancer is detected it is too late for anything to be done.

However, if detected early with the papsmear or screening test, cervical and breast cancers can be treated and cured, he said.