‘30% to 50% of cancers are preventable’
Punjab General Cadre Doctors Association President and Public Health Consultant Dr Masood Shaikh Cancer has become the second leading cause of death worldwide. International cooperation is needed to reduce the global burden of cancer.
He expressed these views while addressing a public seminar at City Hospital Lahore. He pointed out that by adopting a comprehensive strategy, 30% to 50% of cancer can be prevented, these views were expressed by the President of the General Cadre Doctors Association Punjab and Public Health Consultant Dr Masood Shaikh.
Dr sheikh said that according to the World Health Organization, 9.6 million people died of cancer alone.
An average of 400,000 children are diagnosed with cancer every year, and more than $116 billion is spent annually on cancer.
He said that globally 19.3 million cancer cases are being diagnosed annually. If not controlled, it is possible that in 2040 this number will increase to 32 million annually.
Lung cancer in men while breast cancer in women has become a major cause of death. Cancer can also appear in the form of tumors but not all tumors are cancer. He added that cancer has bad effects on the human body, psychology as well as economy.
Some cancers are also hereditary and families should be very careful.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 5th, 2023.