Financial Toxicity of Breast Cancer

Every October, the world turns pink to recognize breast cancer awareness. But here in Karachi, where access to quality care remains out of reach for many, awareness isn’t enough. We need action. We need compassion. And most of all, we need systems that make sure no woman is left behind because she couldn’t afford to survive.

This October, Patients’ Aid Foundation at JPMC is not only committed to providing life-saving treatment, we’re standing with our women, raising awareness, and honoring their strength in the fight against breast cancer. Because awareness saves lives, and every woman deserves the chance to heal with dignity.

As part of this mission, JPMC organized the Breast Cancer Symposium 2025 on October 2nd at the Najamuddin Auditorium in Karachi. The focus went beyond medical treatment, it brought attention to the often overlooked burden of cancer: its financial toxicity.

Because cancer doesn’t just attack the body. It drains bank accounts, empties savings, and forces families into impossible choices, treatment or rent, medication or meals.

The Real Price of Survival & Voices from the Frontline of Breast Cancer Care

The Breast Cancer Symposium 2025, held on October 2nd at the Najamuddin Auditorium, JPMC Karachi, was more than just a medical gathering, it was a heartfelt call to confront one of the most painful truths of our healthcare system: that in Pakistan today, surviving breast cancer often depends on what you can afford, not just how early it’s caught or how advanced the treatment is. For many women, a diagnosis isn’t just a health crisis, it’s a financial death sentence.

Led by Prof. Dr. Ghulam Haider, Head of Oncology at JPMC, the event brought together the country’s most respected oncologists, surgeons, researchers, and advocates to explore not just how we treat breast cancer, but how we make that treatment accessible and humane.

Key Highlights from the Symposium 2025 Agenda

• Dr. M. Arif (Medical Oncologist, AKUH) opened the conversation with a deep dive into the concept of “Time Toxicity”, how delayed diagnoses and late interventions not only compromise clinical outcomes, but also escalate the emotional and financial costs of treatment.
• Dr. Anita Vallacha (Asst. Professor Oncology, JSMU) explored early intervention points to manage financial toxicity, emphasizing the value of proactive, patient centered planning that can prevent treatment interruption or abandonment.
• Dr. Ahmed Nadeem Abbasi (Professor & Section Head Radiation Oncology, AKUH) focused on the economic impact of radiation therapy, underlining how newer technologies can reduce long-term costs while improving patient outcomes.
• Dr. Oremema Saleem (Asst. Professor General Surgery, DUHS) presented a clinical and cost-based comparison of Modified Radical Mastectomy (MRM) versus Breast-Conserving Surgery (BCS), stressing how financial considerations often influence a patient’s surgical choices, even when both options may be medically viable.
• Dr. M. Afzal (Medical Oncologist, AKUH) advocated for shared decision-making, a model where patients and physicians collaborate in treatment planning, helping women make informed choices that align with both their medical needs and financial realities.
• Dr. Maryum Nouman (Assistant Professor & HOD, Oncology, DUHS) addressed the financial toxicity of adjuvant endocrine therapy. She highlighted the pressing need for affordability and continuity of access in these extended treatment plans.
• Dr. Maliha Ashfaq (Assistant Professor, Medical Oncology, DOW Medical College & Civil Hospital) spoke on the economic trade-offs between dual versus single HER2-targeted antibody therapies, such as Abemaciclib and Abenix. Her session offered a thoughtful lens on balancing innovation with accessibility in HER2-positive breast cancer care.
• Dr. Shumyla Beg (Assistant Professor, Oncology, JSMU) discussed the evolving role of CDK4/6 inhibitors in the adjuvant setting, medications that show promise in improving outcomes for hormone receptor-positive patients, but are currently out of financial reach for many in the public healthcare system.
• Dr. Reena Kumari (Medical Oncologist, Ziauddin University Hospital) delivered insight into the real-world benefits of immunotherapy for Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC). She addressed both the potential and the barriers of bringing these cutting-edge treatments to underserved populations.

The symposium offered more than clinical insight; it created space for empathy, urgency, and innovation. Under the guidance of moderators Dr. Shumyla Beg and Dr. Saima Zahoor, the sessions focused on the critical intersection of healthcare equity, financial burden, and women’s empowerment, reminding us that cancer care must be more than medicine; it must be justice.

The event culminated in a panel discussion featuring experts including Dr. Fatima Shaukat, Dr. Khalil Mehr, Dr. Ghulam Haider, Dr. Zahid Mehmood, and Dr. Yasmin Rashid, who shared their perspectives on how Pakistan can create a breast cancer care model that is both sustainable and just. The open Q&A session, moderated by Dr. M. Umair Rehman, gave the audience a chance to directly engage with these leaders, sparking meaningful dialogue around the way forward.

A brief shield distribution ceremony followed, recognizing contributors and speakers. Mr.. Mushtaq Chhapra, Founder and Chairman of Patients’ Aid Foundation, served as Chief Guest, reaffirming the Foundation’s commitment to building a future where every woman, regardless of income, can access Free access to diagnostics for early detection and Free world class treatment for Breast Cancer.. 

The event was also honored by the presence of distinguished guests including Dr. Amjad Siraj Memon (Vice Chancellor, JSMU), Dr. Shahid Rasool (Director, JPMC), and Dr. Tariq Mehmood (Professor Emeritus, Radiation Oncology & Honorary Member, Patients’ Aid foundation’s Planning & Operations).

From targeted therapy to advocacy, speakers emphasized that cancer’s cost extends beyond medicine to emotional trauma, social stigma, and financial hardship. Breast cancer is not just a medical issue, it’s a human rights issue.

The Role of Patients’ Aid Foundation in Revolutionizing Breast Cancer treatment at JPMC 

Patients’ Aid is more than a philanthropic partner to JPMC,  it is a lifeline for thousands who come seeking hope and quality healthcare. In Pakistan, where the high cost of cancer treatment pushes many into catastrophic poverty, Patients’ Aid is breaking barriers for the underserved and vulnerable.

At the heart of JPMC’s Oncology Department is a story of transformation fueled by Patients’ Aid’s commitment to free, dignified, and cutting-edge care. From funding costly treatments to modernizing facilities at JPMC, they are restoring humanity and ensuring no woman, child, or elder suffers alone. Together, with the help of generous donors, they are redefining what public cancer care can and should be in Pakistan.

Here’s how:

1. Access to FREE Tomotherapy: JPMC, one of Pakistan’s largest and oldest public hospitals, offers Tomotherapy, a cutting-edge radiation technology that precisely targets tumors while sparing healthy tissue. Thanks to the Patients’ Aid, this advanced treatment is available here completely free of charge. In most private hospitals, Tomotherapy comes with a six figure price tag, but at JPMC, no patient has to pay a single rupee.
2. A Dedicated FREE Breast Cancer Bay: A groundbreaking initiative is on the horizon, a dedicated Breast Cancer Bay. Backed by a $4 million donation from the Edhi Foundation, this new facility will offer screening, diagnosis, treatment, and recovery services in one integrated space, designed specifically for women, with dignity and comfort at its core.
3. Free Chemotherapies and Beyond: From routine drugs to advanced targeted therapies, Patients’ Aid provides breast cancer patient at JPMC receive free chemotherapy. This includes treatments that often cost hundreds of thousands of rupees in the private sector. For many women, this is the difference between life and death.
4. A Reimagined Oncology Department: What was once an under-resourced ward has become a fully equipped oncology unit, offering care that rivals private hospitals. The transformation includes private infusion bays, trained specialists, and a patient support system that prioritizes empathy as much as expertise.

This isn’t just about charity, it’s equity. It’s restoring dignity to women who have long been told their lives aren’t worth saving unless they can pay for it. But this stereotype ends here. We must take actions to help save our women. 

A Month for Our Women

This October, our focus is on our women, their resilience, their health, and their right to survive breast cancer without financial ruin.

Because behind every diagnosis is a daughter, a mother, a friend, a fighter. And too often, these women suffer in silence, not just from the disease, but from the crushing weight of its cost.

Our survivors, like Fareeda Bano and Syeda Gulshan Ara, fought bravely and refused to compromise on their health. Patients’ Aid helped them see hope, and our generous donors turned that hope into reality. Let’s come together to ensure no woman has to suffer alone. Donate now.

The symposium was more than a medical meeting of medical minds, it was a call to build a system where treatment doesn’t cost families their future. Together, we can make survival possible, regardless of financial status.

Be a Role Model. Be the Reason She Survives.

This October, Patients’ Aid Foundation invites YOU to stand with our women. Whether you’re in Karachi or abroad, you can make a real impact:

• Donate generously to the Patients’ Aid Foundation. Every generous contribution goes directly to providing life-saving treatment for women who can’t afford it.

• Share this message. Talk about it. Share this post with your friends and family.

Let this month be more than a symbol. Let it be a shift. A promise. A beginning.

Because in a city like Karachi, in a country like Pakistan, real change starts with people like you.

Join us in the Breast Cancer fight. Empower women. Save lives. Visit the Patients’ Aid Foundation website today and make a difference.