Mumbai: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) will organise a citywide free breast cancer screening campaign on July 22, with screening camps to be set up in all 227 municipal wards. The initiative aims to promote early detection of breast cancer among women aged 30 years and above, encouraging timely diagnosis and treatment.

The camps will function from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with more than 2,000 healthcare personnel deployed across the city to conduct the large-scale public health initiative.

Screening camps in all 227 wards

The civic body has planned to establish a dedicated screening camp in each of Mumbai‘s 227 municipal wards to ensure easy access for women across the city.

Every camp will be staffed by a medical team comprising two doctors, two nurses and two health workers, who will conduct breast examinations and provide basic health assessments.

In addition to breast cancer screening, women attending the camps will have their blood pressure and body weight checked as part of the health assessment.

Officials said the initial examination is expected to take around five minutes for each participant.

Suspected cases to be referred for mammography

Women who require further evaluation after the preliminary screening will be referred to KEM Hospital and Lokmanya Tilak Municipal General Hospital (Sion Hospital).

These two BMC-run hospitals have the necessary facilities to conduct mammography, which is an important diagnostic test for detecting breast cancer.

The referral system has been put in place to ensure that women with suspected abnormalities receive timely follow-up investigations and medical care.

Campaign aims to promote early detection

According to BMC officials, breast cancer accounts for more than one-fourth of all cancer cases among Indian women, making early diagnosis crucial for improving treatment outcomes.

The campaign has been launched not only to identify suspected cases at an early stage but also to create greater public awareness about breast cancer and the importance of regular screening.

Health experts have consistently emphasised that early detection significantly improves survival rates and expands treatment options.

Specialists join screening initiative

The campaign will involve doctors from BMC’s major hospitals and suburban healthcare facilities.

Medical specialists from private hospitals, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) and the Tata Memorial Centre will also participate in the programme.

Officials said all participating doctors have received specialised training from Tata Memorial Centre to ensure standardised and effective screening procedures across all camps.

Awareness drive to encourage participation

To maximise public participation, the BMC has planned an extensive awareness campaign through municipal schools, anganwadis, health workers and community outreach programmes.

The civic body hopes the awareness initiative will encourage more women to undergo preventive screening and become familiar with the early signs of breast cancer.

Pregnant women have been advised to undergo breast cancer screening at their nearest maternity home or hospital instead of attending the ward-level camps.

Appealing to women across Mumbai, civic officials urged all women aged 30 years and above, including homemakers and working professionals, to take advantage of the free screening programme and prioritise preventive healthcare through early detection.