Eight hundred Fijians died due to cancer in Fiji last year alone.
The alarming statistics was revealed by the Ministry of Health and Medical Services Consultant Physician at the CWM Hospital, Dr Ane Veu during the Bushells Biggest Morning Tea in Suva this morning.
The annual event is held to raise funds to fight against cancer.
Dr Veu says the incidence of cancer has slowly and steadily increased over the last years.
She reveals that last year alone, one thousand five hundred and forty-four people were diagnosed with cancer.
“ For women the combined gynecological cancers make up more than half of cancers however when teased out the statistics have showed that breast cancer 41 percent of women with new cancers have been diagnosed with breast cancers closely followed by cervical and endometrial cancer. In the male’s prostate, liver and lung continue to be the top three causes of cancer.”
Dr Veu also adds that younger men and women are also being diagnosed with cancer.
She says the root problem for cancer is smoking, alcohol and dietary abuse.
Dr Veu says the mind, the mouth and the muscle are the key areas that if controlled well, will help reduced NCD’s and studies have shown that this holds true for cancer as well.
