42.6 percent of the patients treated at the National Cancer Research Institute and Hospital in the capital were diagnosed with cancer. Among them, lung cancer in men and breast cancer in women is the highest.
This information was presented at the Seventh Cancer Registry Report Release Ceremony at the Cancer Research Institute and Hospital Auditorium Building in the capital.
It was informed in the event that the list of cancer patients in the country is getting longer. Most patients are undiagnosed. However, the highest incidence of lung cancer in men and breast cancer in women is among those diagnosed. The research report was presented by the associate professor of the epidemiology department of the institute on the occasion.
According to the report, 83 thousand 795 new patients came to the cancer hospital from January 2018 to December 2020. Among them, 35 thousand 733 people have been diagnosed. 42.6 percent of cancer was detected in it.
The report also said that 55 percent of the patients who come to the cancer institute are women and 45 percent are men. Most lung cancer is diagnosed in both men and women. The percentage of which is 17.4 percent. And according to gender, male cancer patients have the highest 26.6 percent of lung cancer. And among women, 29.3 percent of cancer patients are affected by breast cancer.
In the event, the Director of the Non-Communicable Disease Control Branch of the Department of Health said that in 2013, the World Health Organization (WHO) conducted a population-based study once nationally, but not again. We have requested to do it again. This is important. But there are questions about how ready Bangladesh is for that. A study means documenting everything from the patient’s diagnosis to where his condition may end. Which is much more difficult. Because our diagnosis and facilities are quite deficient.
Stating that there is no alternative to prevention in controlling cancer, the chief guest of the program, the Director (Administration) of the Department of Health said that environment and diet are also major causes of cancer. Even a few years ago it was not so easy to work with. The medical system was also not that advanced. Now that has changed. But there are still many deficiencies. Institutes with state-of-the-art facilities are needed. Eight new medical colleges are coming up, there may be. But those who do need considerable training.
He said, due to various habits including smoking, we should think about whether we are causing cancer or not. Besides, the capacity to control it should be increased. Policymakers need to pay attention to this issue. Determine which cancers are preventable and which will not go away without treatment. At the same time, individual gender and age should be given importance. It should be seen at what age cancer is more affected.
Cancer is one of the major causes of high medical expenses in our country. The state should give the most importance to this place. Where technology has advanced the most in the medical sciences, we still lag behind. Can’t diagnose. Why would this be?