Lahore: Only three percent of cancer patients in Pakistan are diagnosed at an early and curable stage while 22 percent are detected in the second stage, leaving 75 percent identified when their disease has already advanced to stages three and four—where survival chances are minimal despite patients selling belongings and exhausting savings on costly treatment.
“Cancer survival depends on how soon the patient gets treated. In breast cancer, survival is 99 percent in stage one and 90 percent in stage two, but the prognosis becomes poor in later stages,” said Prof. Shahzad Ali Khan, Vice Chancellor of Health Services Academy (HSA) Islamabad, while delivering the keynote address at the public health session of the annual medical oncology conference in Lahore.
The three-day international gathering, Best of ASCO 2025, brought together oncologists, researchers, and public health experts from Pakistan and abroad to share the latest knowledge and treatment options. Organized by the Society of Medical Oncology Pakistan (SMOP), it featured sessions on therapies, immunotherapy, palliative care, and public health approaches.
Prof. Khan warned that cancer, once more common among affluent groups, is now spreading among the poor who cannot bear its staggering costs. He noted that the disease behaves differently in Pakistan compared to the West, appearing at younger ages, growing faster, and often responding poorly to drugs developed abroad.
He lamented the absence of a comprehensive public-sector cancer hospital, stressing that Atomic Energy Commission centers are no substitute for modern oncology services. “There is one oncologist for every million people. But with most patients reaching stage three or four, even more oncologists cannot change outcomes,” he said.
Prof. Khan identified two main obstacles to timely treatment: community-level delay due to lack of awareness, and system-level delay caused by untrained primary care physicians and the absence of a referral mechanism. “Doctors often hesitate to refer suspected patients for fear of losing clientele. With no referral system, patients reach oncology centers late, when the disease is no longer manageable,” he remarked.
On prevention, he urged Pakistanis to modify their lifestyles. “Diet in our society is becoming cancerous, 90 percent of Pakistanis don’t exercise, stress is rising and sleep is becoming an issue. Unless we address these, the cancer burden will worsen,” he cautioned.
Prof. Khan also criticized holding discussions in luxury hotels, saying: “Talking about poor cancer patients in five-star hotels is hypocrisy. Universities and public institutions should host these events. HSA is ready to provide free space and volunteers,” a comment that drew applause.
Other speakers stressed that without awareness and prompt treatment, cancer patients will continue to face delayed care and high mortality, and called for strategies involving government, medical institutions, and civil society to build cancer care infrastructure.
At another session, organized with the support of local pharmaceutical firm Pharmevo, experts highlighted Pakistan’s growing cancer prevalence. Citing International Agency for Research on Cancer (GLOBOCAN) data, they noted that breast cancer accounts for 31 percent of female cancers, head and neck cancers 8.6 percent, lung cancer 5.6 percent, and colorectal cancer 5.1 percent. Limited infrastructure and heavy out-of-pocket costs mean many patients abandon treatment midway.
International experts highlighted the potential of immunotherapy, particularly immune checkpoint inhibitors such as Pembrolizumab, now established globally for superior efficacy and better side-effect profile compared to chemotherapy.
Dr. Ilya Pokataev, Head of the Clinical Research Center and Chemotherapy Department at Moscow City, who was invited by Pharmevo shared clinical trial data on a biosimilar Pembrolizumab that showed equivalent quality, safety and immunogenicity compared to the original molecule.
The session, moderated by Dr. M. Nauman Zahir of Dr. Ziauddin Hospital, underlined that Pembrolizumab is indicated in 24 types of cancer, potentially benefiting thousands of patients in Pakistan if made affordable and accessible.
Oncologists welcomed the availability of new treatment options, noting that access to advanced therapies such as immunotherapy could transform outcomes if integrated into local systems. They stressed that while affordability remains a barrier, evidence-based therapies tailored for Pakistani patients are crucial to reduce the growing cancer toll.
Participants also appreciated the role of scientific forums, supported by industry players such as Pharmevo, in introducing innovative treatment options to the local medical community, provided these are aligned with public health needs and made accessible for patients nationwide.
Ends