New Delhi, Oct 24 (IANS): Over 1,000 women were screened for breast cancer on Friday on the first day of a free screening and awareness camp held here.

The week-long drive, inaugurated by Bharatiya Janata Party MP Meenakshi Lekhi, will also raise awareness among women, basically on the causes of breast cancer.

"The right age for a normal women for screening is when she is 40. Women who had family history of breast cancer are in high risk zone and they should be screened at the age of 35. However, given the occurrence of the disease among younger women, all are encouraged to go in for screening," she said at the flag off.

According to WHO, about 60 percent of breast cancer cases in India are detected at stage III or IV, which severely limits the survival chances as well as treatment options.

The Global Burden of Cancer Report 2013 says about 48,000 women died of breast cancer in India. The rise in breast cancer in India mirrors the global situation, and this alarming trend merits immediate measures to control the incidence.

"Aim of this programme was to highlight the importance of early diagnosis by screening which can lead to timely cure. As many of the women are detected with breast cancer at a late stage, it is therefore important that screening efforts are intensified," said Naresh Kapoor, director of BLK Super Speciality Hospital, which is organising the drive.