Cancer on the rise in Sri Lanka: 17,000 new patients detected annually

All types of cancers are on the rise in Sri Lanka with around 17,000 new cancer patients detected annually by the local health system, National Cancer Control Programme Director Consultant Community Physician Dr Sudath Samaraweera said.

Addressing a media workshop in Colombo today Dr Samaraweera said the most common cancer among Sri Lankans is oral cancer, while with women it is breast cancer, with around 2,500 new breast cancer patients detected annually. Consultant Community Physician Dr Nayana De Alwis said that daily around seven new breast cancer patients are being detected in Sri Lanka with most of them in the stages three or four, which cannot be reversed. Read more

Risks of cancer in Nepal

Published: February 02, 2016 10:48 am

KATHMANDU: With the changing lifestyle and exposure to risk factors like smoking, there has been a significant rise in the number of cancer patients in Nepal as per Dr Prakash Raj Neupane, Medical Director at Bhaktapur Cancer Hospital and Chairman at BP Koirala Memorial Cancer Hospital, Chitwan.

In Nepal, some 30,000 new cases of cancer are diagnosed every year in the country, reveals Dr Neupane. “Among them, only 10,000 cancer patients reach the hospital for treatment,” says the doctor adding, “To aware remaining 20,000 patients to go to the hospital for treatment, the World Cancer Day is celebrated in Nepal too”.

“If detected early, the treatment of cancer is possible,” he further emphasises.

As per the data provided by Dr Neupane, four common cases of cancers seen in Nepal are — cancers of lungs, breast, cervix and abdomen.

“Among the total population, 45 per cent males and 55 per cent females are suffering from different types of cancers here — due to ignorance, lack of personal hygiene, birth trauma and lack of regular health check up, especially in women,” reveals the doctor. Read more