About 10 million people die every year: cancer leading cause of death around the world

Cancer is a leading cause of death around the world. About ten million people fall into the pit of cancer every year in the world and in Pakistan only, 150 thousand people are affected by cancer." Dr Muhammad Ali Afridi, Consultant Oncologist of Shifa International Hospital said this while addressing the seminar on World Cancer Day on Friday.
According to the estimates of the World Health Organisation (WHO) 84 million people will die of cancer between 2005 and 2015 without intervention. A free medical check-up camp for cancer patients was organised by the Oncology Department of Shifa International Hospital. Free mammography was also given to the privileged females above the age of 40. This was followed by an awareness Seminar on Cancer and then a film show exclusively for ladies.
Cancer is one of the world's main killers, that has defied total cure. It is one of the major causes of death in Nigeria especially, among the women who die from cervical and breast cancer. Dr Afridi while addressing the seminar informed the public that though cancer is of about 100 types, but it can be divided into six groups; Carcinoma, Sarcoma, Lymphoma, Leukemia, Glioma and other.
Afridi informed that all cancers are not formed from a cyst or tumour, like blood cancer. At the same time all cysts and tumours are not cancerous. The cancer commonly found in males is of neck, head, lungs, lymphoma, bladder, food pipe, stomach, liver, colon and rectum. The cancers commonly found in females are breast, head, neck, ovary, uterus, food pipe, stomach, lymphoma, colon and rectum.
The factors which are involved in cancer as discussed by Dr Afridi were smoking and excessive usage of tobacco for mouth and neck cancers. The causes of other cancers are because of Hepatitis B for Liver, Human Pappiloma Virus for Cervix, and Helicobacter Pylori for stomach. Inadequate diets, usage of liquor, environmental pollution are also the factors involved in cancer.
He informed that cancer is a deadly disease but if diagnosed on time and given a proper treatment, it can be cured 90 percent. The treatments for cancer are through surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy and biological therapy. Dr Kamran Rasheed, Consultant Oncologist in Shifa International Hospital informed the public about breast cancer. He said that it is the most commonly found cancer. 1 out of 9 women is suffering from breast cancer, which sums up to 2 million women per year. 1 in 27 women die in America because of breast cancer.
Dr Rasheed informed that cysts are formed in the ducts or the lobules of the breast; these can even be formed in the armpits and stretched till the breast as well. Dr Rasheed also explained that while examining one's own breast one should look for the pounded breast, granules, itching and discharge from the breast should never be over looked. The treatments are surgery, chemotherapy, radiation and hormonal therapy for the breast cancer.