THE World Cancer Day was observed across the world, including Pakistan, on Friday, verbalising the oath to fight against the second biggest killer of people.
A number of seminars, workshops and discussions were held at different hospitals of the provincial metropolis to raise awareness among the masses about the deadly disease. According to health professionals, prevention offers the most cost-effective and long-term strategy for the control of cancer.
King Edward Medical University’s Department of Surgery and Surgical Oncology Society Pakistan (SOS-PK) organised the 3rd National Cancer Surgery Conference which was inaugurated at the varsity on Friday. The conference will last for four days.
Eminent nuclear physicist Dr Samar Mubarikmand was the guest of honor.
He said he had personal interest in the conference and the provision of treatment facilities for cancer, as once he was also exposed to the nuclear radiations.
President Surgical Oncology Society Pakistan & Chairman Department of Surgery King Edward Medical University Professor Muhammad Arshad Cheema said that smoking and higher consumption of saturated salts increased many times the incidence of cancer. According to him, only the use of tobacco causes one-third of the cancer, saying many precious lives could be saved by banning the use of tobacco.
The inauguration of the conference was preceded by a workshop in cancer surgery, lasting a series of three pre-conference CME workshops, elaborating latest techniques in the surgery of various cancers. The participants were also shown latest treatment of soft tissue and colon cancer.
Children’s Hospital, Services Hospital and Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Oncology (INMOL) also observed the World Cancer Day by arranging seminars.
It was also highlighted during the seminars that with awareness for precautions and screening among general public, about 40 percent of cancer could be prevented.
According to health experts, cancer is a leading cause of death around the world, as the World Health Organisation (WHO) estimated that 84 million people would die of cancer between 2005 and 2015.
They also claim that many cancers could be prevented by avoiding exposure to common risk factors, such as tobacco smoke.
In addition, a significant proportion of cancers can be cured by surgery, radiotherapy or chemotherapy, especially if they are detected early.
The health experts are also of the view that early detection of cancer greatly increases the chances for successful treatment.