Lung cancer is the most prevalent cancer in Brunei and is one of the leading causes of deaths in the Sultanate.

A leading oncologist in the country, Dr Hj Muhd Syafiq Abdullah, urged people to stop smoking and start leading a healthy lifestyle.

Cancer comes in various types and was the Number One killer between 2004 and 2007 in Brunei, before overtaken by cardiovascular disease.

Medical practitioners said the situation is ever more serious in part because cancer is preventable as it is caused mostly by “environmental factors” as opposed to genetics, etc. Smoking for instance is a health hazard. Eating a healthy diet, leading a healthy lifestyle and regular exercise can prevent the development of various cancers.

Speaking at the Symposium on Cancer Prevention, Dr Hj Muhd Syafiq Abdullah urged people to try maintaining a reasonable weight, increase physical activity, eat five to nine fruits and vegetables daily, increase fibre intake and reduce fat intake, limit alcohol consumption and limit exposure to the sun.

The annual global deaths from cancer will jump to 17 million by 2030 from the current 7.6 million if people do not take urgent action to avoid risk factors, warned the World Health Organisation.

Figures from the National Cancer Centre (2002-2006) showed that since 2003, lung cancer has been the most common cancer in Brunei.

Also, according to the data from the newly-established National Cancer Centre, breast cancer is the second most common type of cancer since 2003. In 2006, endometrium, cervical and thyroid cancer were the third, fourth and fifth most common cancers in Brunei.

From the facts, Dr Muhd Syafiq said 39 per cent of those who get cancer will die from it. “Cancer develops over many years and it is not deadly until very late in its course,” he said.

Senior Occupational Therapist and Heart Therapy Coordinator, Jong Seng Khiong said more than 30 per cent of all cancers can be prevented through simple measures such as avoiding smoking, eating a healthy diet and taking exercise and protection against cancer-causing infections.

He said the WHO estimated the annual cancer deaths would jump to 17 million in 2030 if people do not take urgent action to avoid risk factors.

Cancer is set to overtake cardiovascular disease to become the leading cause of deaths worldwide by 2010, according to a new report from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), a division of the World Health Organisation.

He stated the most common risk factors for cancer known here were smoking, sunlight, certain chemicals and other substances, some viruses and bacteria, physical inactivity or being overweight and poor diet.

Other factors include growing older and family history of cancer.

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