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World Cancer Day marked APP
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) on Wednesday arranged a function here at Nuclear Medicine Oncology and Radiotherapy Institute (NORI) to mark World Cancer Day to create awareness among the people. Addressing the participants of the event, Secretary Foreign Affairs Aizaz Ahmed Chaudhry stressed to adopt active and healthy lifestyle, regular checking for cancer signs and living a simple life to avoid the deadly disease. He said cancer hospitals of Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission gives high priority to the application of nuclear technology in health sector. Through its 18 medical centers spread all over the country, patients receive state-of-the-art diagnostic and treatment facilities. He appreciated the dedication and commitment of NORI staff and expressed the hope that they will continue their work to give relief to the cancer patients. He added NORI is one of the best world cancer treatment hospitals. He urged to take a positive and proactive approach to the fight against cancer. He said, “Solutions do exit and they are within our reach.” Chairman Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission Dr Ansar Parvez said that the PAEC has established 18 nuclear medical centres in different cities where more than 7,00,000 cancer patients are taken care off annually. He said cancer patients are also being treated in hospitals, including KIRAN Karachi, NORI Islamabad, INMOL Lahore, PINUM Faisalabad, IRNUM Peshawar, CENAR Quetta, Larkana and Jamshoro, Bannu, D.I. Khan, Swat and Gujranwala. He said that the objectives of these institutes are to provide clinical services to the patient, teaching and training facilities and research opportunities besides providing diagnostic and therapeutic facilities to the cancer patients and other allied diseases of the remote areas. He said that radiation and medical treatment is provided at all hospitals and to all types of cancer patients irrespective of stages of the disease. He added the contribution of PAEC through its integrated program in radiotherapy of different kinds of cancer and allied diseases, has received considerable acclaim in the public. He further said that nuclear medicine and radiology provides diagnostic studies and therapeutic applications. Apart from diagnostic imaging studies, radioimmunoassay has made it possible to manage, in a more scientific manner, patients with diseases affecting various other glands. Dr Parvez said that NORI has been keeping up with its tradition of providing diagnostic and treatment facilities to the referred patients of the twin cities, suburbs and northern parts of the country with utmost dedication. NORI Cancer Hospital Head of Department, Dr Muhammad Faheem said that it is high time to raise awareness and education about cancer with the aim of saving millions of preventable deaths each year. He said that atleast one third of the most common cancers can be prevented through healthier diets, improved physical activity and avoiding alcohol consumption. He added awareness is recognized as the first step to early detection and improving cancer outcomes. He said that screening programs should be integrated into health system. He added for breast colorectal and cervical cancers, there is robust evidence to support the implementation of population-based screening programs that are tailored to the countries’ resources and burden of disease. He said that innovative education and training programs for cancer healthcare professionals should be developed on existing materials, training networks and infrastructure. Other prominent health experts also expressed their views on various types of cancer diseases. A walk was also held on the occasion to create awareness among the general public about the deadly disease. According to the estimates of UK Cancer Research, two in three of those born today are likely to develop cancer, experts have warned, after drawing up stark new scientific forecasts. The estimates from UK Cancer Research suggest over half of adults born since 1960 can expect to suffer the disease in their lifetime, with study authors warning that the figure will rise in future generations. Experts said the new statistic - replacing previous estimates of one in three - is the most accurate forecast to date, Telegraph reported. Much of the rise is explained by increasing life expectancy, and the fact that cancer is much more common in old age. However, researchers warned that around one third of the increase is fuelled by lifestyle factors such as smoking, rising obesity and changes in childbearing patterns. The forecasts says that men born after 1960 have a 53.5 per cent lifetime risk of cancer, compared to a risk of 38.5 per cent among those born three decades before. For women, the risk has risen from 36.7 per cent to 47.5 per cent, the figures show, with an overall risk of 50.5 per cent across both genders. Researchers said that if life expectancy continues to increase, but lifestyle habits do not improve, the vast majority of children could expect to develop cancer in their lifetimes.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk