Bhathiya Barukanda
Health authorities in Sri Lanka have expressed concern over a sharp rise in cancer diagnoses, with over 33,000 new cases and 19,000 deaths recorded in the past year alone.
The alarming statistics were highlighted during the 21st Annual Academic Sessions of the Sri Lanka College of Oncologists (SLCO), recently held in Colombo.
Health Secretary Dr. Palitha Mahipala drew attention to the most prevalent forms of cancer, noting that amongst men, oral cancer remains the leading diagnosis, whilst breast cancer continues to dominate among women.
He highlighted the growing burden of cancer, both locally and globally, warning that cancer cases worldwide are projected to jump by 77% by 2050, particularly in lower-income countries.
To tackle this surge, Dr. Mahipala urged Sri Lankans to focus on reducing risk factors such as tobacco use, alcohol consumption, unhealthy eating habits and lack of physical activity.
He pointed out that most cancer cases can be prevented with lifestyle changes, with only a small portion attributed to genetic factors.
“Global cancer statistics from 2022 showed nearly 20 million new cases and close to 10 million deaths. In Sri Lanka, breast, oral, lung and colorectal cancers remain the deadliest forms. Last year alone, 4,555 women were diagnosed with breast cancer, while 1,990 men were found to have oral cancer,” he added.
Dr Mahipala pointed out that most cancer cases can be prevented with lifestyle changes, with only a small portion attributed to genetic factors.
