Bangladesh has ‘1.5m’ cancer patients, ‘150,000’ die each year

There are around 1.5 million cancer patients in Bangladesh with 150,000 of them dying each year, said an expert at a discussion in the capital marking the World Cancer Day on Tuesday, reports UNB.

Professor Sabera Khatun, former chair of Gynae Oncology department at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University revealed the information, citing data of the World Health Organization (WHO).

The Radiotherapy department of Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) organised the programme at National Press Club.

Voicing concern over the increase in the number of cancer patients in Bangladesh, experts urged the government create a database of such patients in the country.

“We’ve to face a problem while visiting abroad. Many experts and doctors ask us how many cancer patients are there in Bangladesh and how many of them die. But we fail to give any appropriate answer for not having accurate data in this regard,” said professor Sabera.

She urged the government, especially the health and family welfare ministry and Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS), to prepare a data of cancer patients immediately.

The cancer expert said around 99 per cent uterus cancer can be cured through taking vaccine during the girlhood but it is not done here. “If developed countries like Australia and the UK can resolve the problem through using the vaccine why can’t we do?” Sabera questioned.

Professor MA Khan, former head of haematology department at DMCH, said Bangladesh can provide all kinds of treatment for cancer patients. “So, patients should stop going abroad for cancer treatment spending huge money.”

This is alarming that the number of cancer patients is increasing in the country, he said, adding that the government and media must play an important role to raise awareness among people to prevent cancer at the early stage.

Swapan Bandyopadhyay, head of the DMCH radiotherapy department, said the number of cancer patients is increasing in the country for various reasons, including food adulteration, environment and air pollution, smoking and genetic problems.

Associate professor Rakib Uddin Ahmed of the DMCH urged children to exercise every day and avoid junk foods as this might cause cancer in future.

A total of eight cancer specialists were awarded at the event.

Associate professor and head of the Department of Cancer Epidemiology at the National Institute of Cancer Research and Hospital Habibullah Talukder Raskin, DMCH professor Khodeja Begum, associate professor Alia Shahnaj, assistant professor Tanni Adikari, vice-president (marketing) of Oncology and Biotech of Beacon Pharmaceuticals Ltd. SM Mahmudul Haque Pallab were, among others, present there.