The number of cancer cases has been increasing in the country every year. Over 2,400 cases were diagnosed and some 940 deaths were recorded from 2014 to 2018. According to the Health Ministry, common causes include poor dietary habits and obesity.
The three most common cancers in the country are gastric, cervical and breast cancer. Some of the leading causes of these cancers are found out to be smoking, drinking alcohol, chewing doma and excessive intake of salt.
“With regard to gastric, the common cause of this cancer include H.Pylori, poor dietary habits, excess intake of salt, obesity and overconsumption of processed food,” said Kinley Wangchuk, a Senior Program Officer from the Department of Public Health.
He added that “for Cervical cancer, it has more to do with sex at an early age, first childbirth in early age, multiple sexual partners, smoking and consumption of alcohol. Then for breast cancer, it is mostly to do with a family history of breast cancer, early menstruation, late menopause, obesity, smoking and alcohol consumption.”
However, to reduce cancer incidence and mortality, the government has initiated the Health Flagship program (2020-2023) to combat the top three cancers.
The Global World Cancer Day is marked today with the theme “I am and I will”, to provide support and care to the patients as well as to take one’s own responsibility in cancer prevention activities.
Kinzang Lhadon
