Karachi: Fatima Jinnah Dental College (FJDC) recently celebrated World Cancer Month. The event provided an opportunity for spreading awareness about the disease, symptoms and detection. The event raised awareness about the signs and early detection of cancer.
This year’s theme, 'I can, we can' acknowledges that everyone can address this issue. We all can work together to reduce early deaths from cancer by doing timely screenings and treatments.
About 30% of the cancer deaths could be avoided by changing lifestyle and more healthy behaviours.
The vast majority of cancer deaths are preventable. To prevent yourself from cancer, the following steps are recommended: don’t use tobacco, eat a healthy diet, maintain a healthy weight, be physically active, know your family medical history and get regular cancer screenings.
Diagnosing cancer, at its earliest stages, often provides the best chance for a cure. With this in mind, one should talk to a doctor about what types of cancer screening may be appropriate.
In a meeting held on the day of the event, Dr Hussain Askary, Chief Executive Officer, FJDC and Head of the Department of Community Dentistry, announced that FJDC is celebrating World Cancer Month and an elaborate Social Media awareness campaign has been planned. On further discussion with Dr Tasleem Hossien, Principal, FJDC and Dr Inayatullah Padhiyar, Academic Advisor, FJDC and Chief Editor of Journal of Pakistan Dental Associations (JPDA) were decided that the College will continue the entire month dedicate the month of Feb 2021 to the cause of Cancer Awareness. Dr Hussain further added that as a National Strategy, we should encourage proper patient education for better prevention and early diagnosis. Pakistan must develop a robust plan for the management of cancer patients.
Hussain Askary emphasized a dire need for nationwide and regional data to adopt a national and regional strategy. He concluded by saying, understandably, all resources and effort is on preventing and managing COVID-19 as dictated by the current global scenario; however, we should not neglect the other already prevalent diseases. We should strive to lead a more normal, healthy and active life.
World Cancer Day is an international day marked on February 4 to raise awareness of cancer and encourage its prevention, detection.
-DN Report
