Women in the Malwa belt of Punjab are facing the threat of breast cancer, if one goes by the reports compiled by Roko Cancer, a UK-based organisation. It has been conducting free mammography tests in collaboration with several NRIs and the state Health Department in the state. In the last around five years, Roko Cancer organised 700 cancer detection camps and checked over a lakh women, of which 16,000 underwent mammography. Reports found 950 women suffering from breast cancer in the state. Besides, there were over 2,000 suspected cases. As many as 145 women have been found suffering from the disease in Ferozepur district alone. The count is 106 in Faridkot, 76 in Muktsar and 75 in Moga. Kulwant Singh Dhaliwal of Roko Cancer has stressed upon the need to take up concerted efforts to spread awareness on breast cancer in the state. “Breast cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer deaths among women in Punjab. The mortality rate can be reduced significantly if it is diagnosed in preliminary stages using latest diagnostic technology, which is available with us,” he said. If detected at an early stage, he said, the disease could be cured completely with medication and surgery. “We have two buses fully equipped with the facilities of mammography tests in Punjab for holding breast cancer detection camps for rural women. We are also contemplating opening a cancer hospital in Moga district,” he said. Dhaliwal said excessive use of pesticides and change in lifestyle were the main reasons for the high incidence of the disease in the Malwa belt.