BMC to hold free breast cancer screening drive across 227 Mumbai wards on July 22

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) will conduct a free breast cancer screening drive across all 227 municipal wards in Mumbai, with diagnostic referrals directed to KEM Hospital and Lokmanya Tilak Municipal General Hospital (Sion Hospital). The citywide camps are scheduled to take place on July 22, running from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm, and will target local women aged 30 years and above.

The civic body is launching this health campaign to address the high prevalence of breast cancer, which officials noted accounts for more than one-fourth of all cancer cases among Indian women. The primary objective of the drive is to improve general health awareness and identify suspected cases at an early, more treatable stage.

To execute the massive screening effort, the BMC has deployed a force of over 2,000 medical personnel. This workforce includes doctors, nurses, and community health workers who will be stationed at the various camp locations throughout the day. Each of the 227 municipal wards will have a specific medical team assigned to it, comprising two doctors, two nurses, and two health workers.

The screening process is structured to be highly efficient, with each individual screening expected to take about five minutes. During this brief session, medical staff will conduct clinical breast examinations. In addition to the cancer screenings, the attending medical personnel will also perform routine checks on the patients' blood pressure and body weight to assess overall health.

For participants who require more comprehensive evaluation, the BMC has established a clear referral pathway. Women identified with potential symptoms or concerns during the preliminary exam will be referred for diagnostic mammography. These follow-up diagnostic services will be provided at KEM Hospital and Lokmanya Tilak Municipal General Hospital (Sion Hospital), where the necessary mammography equipment and facilities are available.