One thousand two hundred cases of cancer are recorded every year- which is responsible for ten percent of deaths in Fiji.

This was revealed by Fiji Cancer Society Chairperson, Phillip Low during the launch of the Fiji’s Biggest Morning Tea in Suva yesterday.

The Fiji Cancer society says Cancer continues to rise due to late detection and lack of awareness.

FCS Chairperson Philip Low says its not a taboo topic of conversation and there’s a need to talk openly about it.

“One of the important things you should know about cancer and understand about cancer is that it is indiscriminate disease. It does know race, it doesn’t know religion, it doesn’t know age. If at any given time you have a slight doubt about whether you do or you do not have cancer go and seek medical advice.”

69-year-old retired nurse, Emele Duwai -a breast cancer survivor shared her experience during the biggest morning tea launch yesterday.

She’s counting her lucky stars after she consulted a doctor when detecting a lump on her breast in February last year.

“Please don’t hide it. Please don’t keep it back. Go as soon as possible because the sooner you come to the hospital you get treated the sooner you come back home because if you hide it .. you know what the doctor told me that day, doctor said lucky we still mobilising your breast if your breast was stuck on the chest wall finish.. we cant do anything more.”

The biggest morning tea is organised every year to raise funds to fight against cancer.

More than nine hundred people have been screened to date.