Chennai, Jan 1 (NationPress) is preparing to unveil a specialized public women's cancer screening centre at Thousand Lights by February.

This facility, which is being established at a budget of Rs 1.23 crore, will provide complimentary screening services for breast, cervical, and ovarian cancers—conditions significantly impacting women in Tamil Nadu.

The centre will span three stories and will be managed by the Greater Chennai Corporation's Health Department, operating daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. except on Sundays.

It will feature a mammogram unit for breast cancer screening, a laboratory for Pap smear tests aimed at detecting cervical cancer, and an ultrasound facility for evaluating abdominal and ovarian cancers.

A dedicated consultation room will also be included. While government hospitals already offer multiple diagnostic services for free, advanced cancer screening tests like mammograms often necessitate private care.

The new facility is designed to close this gap, promoting early diagnosis, particularly for women from lower-income backgrounds.

Thousand Lights MLA Dr. Ezhilan Naganathan announced the initiative, highlighting the need for accessible cancer screening amidst the escalating cancer burden in Tamil Nadu.

“I envisioned creating a free, accessible cancer screening option for women in the city. Early detection can drastically enhance survival rates. We also plan to maintain a comprehensive data registry of all women screened, aiding in research and long-term strategies for cancer prevention,” he stated.

Dr. J. Amalorpavanathan, a member of the State Planning Commission, remarked that this facility is timely, as Tamil Nadu accounts for 6.4% of the country's total cancer cases while representing merely 5.6% of India's population.

He emphasized that although cervical cancer remains prevalent among women in rural regions, urban areas are experiencing an uptick in breast cancer occurrences, often attributed to lifestyle changes, delayed marriages, and late childbirth.