Hyderabad city icons go pink

Hyderabad: Historical monuments and prominent buildings in Hyderabad were illuminated in pink to mark the launch of month-long breast cancer awareness programme. October is recognised as international breast cancer awareness month the world over.

The historic Charminar, the symbol of the city, the Buddha statue in Hussain Sagar lake and the KIMS Hospital buildings were lit in pink on Wednesday night for the pink ribbon campaign aimed at creating awareness on the importance of early detection of breast cancer. This is the 10th year that Ushalakshmi Breast Cancer Foundation (UBF), a not-for-profit breast cancer charity, has illuminated the key landmarks as part of its consistent and innovative initiatives to create public awareness.

"Hyderabad is the only city in Asia to have so many prominent buildings and historic monuments turn pink in one night in support of breast cancer awareness," said Dr P Raghu Ram, founder, CEO and Director, Ushalakshmi Breast Cancer Foundation

Prominent monuments and buildings that also turn pink during the month include the White House, the Empire State Building, the Buckingham Palace, the Tower of London and the Eiffel Tower.

The idea started in 2000 when the Estee Lauder group of companies illuminated their buildings world over in pink to mark the beginning of international breast cancer awareness month.

"As breast cancer cannot be prevented, the only way to fight it is early detection," said Dr Rahu Ram, director of KIMS-Ushalkashmi Centre for Breast Diseases, Hyderabad.

In India, over 162,000 women are newly diagnosed with breast cancer every year - with the staggering number showing that it has overtaken cervical cancer to become the most common cancer affecting women.

Contrary to the western world where breast cancer is common after the age of 50 years, the highest incidence of breast cancer in India is between the ages of 30-50 years - at least a decade earlier. More than 87, 000 women succumb to breast cancer every year - a woman dies of breast cancer every 10 minutes in India.

Through the consistent innovative and pioneering initiatives of the Foundation over the last 13 years, breast cancer is no longer a "closet issue" in this region.

Former Union Health Secretary K Sujatha Rao will deliver the fourth Virtual Ushalakshmi Breast Cancer Foundation Oration on 'Breast cancer advocacy, screening & early detection of breast cancer' on October 6. Telangana Governor Dr Tamilisai Soundararajan will be the chief guest for the virtual programme.

Why the pink?

The pink ribbon represents fear of breast cancer, hope for the future, and the charitable goodness of people and businesses who publicly support the breast cancer movement. It is intended to evoke solidarity with women who currently have breast cancer.