The number of people diagnosed with cancer is steadily increasing and many cases still go unreported.
Minister for Health Jone Usamate highlighted this while speaking at a World Cancer Day at the CWM Hospital in Suva today.
With cancer being the third most common cause of death in Fiji, Usamate says the Ministry of Health is seeing more patients every year.
‘’From 2010-2013 a total of around 4742 cancer cases were recorded in Fiji, including a marked increase in 2013 compared with other years. I have already mentioned a few, but this number also includes leukemia and colorectal cancers. In 2014, there were 248 cases of breast cancer and 236 cases of cervical cancer’’.
Usamate says the message is simple as early detection is the best prevention
The Health Ministry also promotes healthy lifestyles because smoking and alcohol abuse have been known to cause cancer.
