`CANCER Can Be Prevented Too’ is the theme for World Cancer Day, which will be marked today.
The theme aims at initiating the public to take simple steps to prevent cancer, which include to stop smoking, adopt a healthy diet, exercise regularly, prevent infections such as Hepatitis B (which can cause cancer) and to avoid alcohol.

The theme is timely and in line with the steps taken by the Ministry of Health especially in promoting and nurturing a healthy lifestyle among the people.

This was highlighted by Minister of Health Pehin Orang Kaya Indera Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Hj Suyoi bin Hj Osman in his message to mark World Cancer Day.

Cancer is one of the main causes of death worldwide. The World Health Organisation has estimated that 84 million people would die of cancer (from 2005 -2015) if prevention and control programmes are not implemented.

In Brunei, cancer was the main cause of death (from 2004 to 2007), with a death rate of 55.1 for every 100,000 population in 2007. From 2002-2006, the national cancer registration reached 1,348 cases, an average of 269 cases annually.

cancer, and breast cancer among women. Others include cervix, endometrium and nasopharynx cancer.
The number of cancer cases is slowly increasing and what is alarming is that breast cancer is being detected at a young age, lung cancer is on the rise among nonsmokers, and obesity is related to endometrium cancer at a young age.

Cancer can be cured and treated, whereby 30% of such cases can be prevented if we were to take action by changing our lifestyle.

To prevent and control the disease in Brunei, the Ministry of Health has taken several steps including implementing the Tobacco Order 2005 and its regulations, which helps to reduce both the rate of intake of tobacco products in this country and lung cancer.

The Ministry of Health takes the holistic treatment and high quality services seriously. To strengthen treatment and healthcare, through a joint effort with JPMC, the RIPAS Hospital Oncology Unit has been moved permanently to JPMC as of December 21, 2009.

The unit was moved to provide a National Cancer Centre in an effort to give more comprehensive service, as a national referral centre to treat, cure and prevent cancer, as well as to upgrade the quality of life for cancer

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