ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is the seventh populous country with an estimated annual cancer incidence of 148,041 new cases, said consultant radiation oncologist Dr Mohammad Farrukh at a seminar on the eve of World Cancer Day at Shifa International Hospital on Saturday.

He said 101,113 cancer related deaths were reported over the last five years including 48,449 men and 52,664 women.

Cancer is the second biggest cause of death at 12.6pc cases after cardiovascular diseases at 15.1pc.

Dr Farrukh said that generally, the risk of cancer increases with age but has no restrictions for race or gender. He said cancers occurring early in life are usually hereditary such as breast cancer, thyroid cancer in young people and eye cancer in children. He added that cancers are not infectious and are not transmitted to others.

We have the highest incidence of breast cancer in Asia, seminar held on eve of World Cancer Day told

The doctor warned the audience about smoking cigarettes, sheesha or having niswar or snuff can lead to cancers of the lung, oral cavity, breast and the bladder. Timely screening and an active lifestyle can help avoid certain risk factors and certain types of cancers.

Another speaker, Dr Ayaz Mir said there are more than 100 types of blood cancer and that the three major categories are leukaemia which involves blood, lymphoma which involved lymph nodes and myeloma which involved bones.

Fatigue, weight loss, night sweats, loss of appetite, bleeding, bone pain, enlarged glands and recurrent infections are the main symptoms of blood cancer. He explained that many types of blood cancers are now treated with pills in the USA rather than chemotherapy. Another major advancement is that drugs can now be used to stimulate the immune system to fight cancer. Many new drugs are being manufactured in neighbouring countries including India but not in Pakistan and importing them are also prohibited. Many blood cancers can be cured via bone marrow or stem cell transplants from the patients’ own or a donor’s stem cells. He said many patients cannot afford transplants which cost between Rs1.5 million and Rs2.5 million.

Dr Mir stressed on the need for developing a culture for blood donation and research into cures for cancer.

Breast cancer expert Dr Uzma Qasim said more than a million women are diagnosed with breast cancer every year and that Pakistan has the highest incidence of breast cancer in Asia. She said the risk factors include age, family history, race, background radiation, genetic factors, menstrual history and reproductive history.

CDA Director General Health Services Islamabad Dr Hassan Urooj stressed on the need for adopting a healthy lifestyle and consuming healthy food.

Anchorperson Syed Talat Hussain said World Cancer Day is observed to support those who are fighting cancer.

Published in Dawn, February 4th, 2018