Experts at a seminar on Thursday warned that cancers kill 10 million people worldwide and approximately 18 million new cases of cancers appeared every year, demanding stepped up-efforts to reduce the number of victims by creating awareness and research. Moreover, the number of new cancer cases is likely to rise by 70 percent in next two decades.

They addressed cancer awareness seminar organized by Molecular Care, Department of Biochemistry University of Agriculture Faisalabad in collaboration with National Academy of Young Scientists (NAYS), Pakistan and Cancer Care Hospital and Research Center (CCHRC), Lahore. UAF Vice Chancellor Dr Muhammad Ashraf said cancer figure among the leading causes of morbidity and mortality. He viewed that we have to encouraging people to get exercise, adopting healthy food and quit smoking etc that will help reduce the cancer cases. He viewed that among men, the most common cancers are of the lung, stomach, and liver. He said that lung cancer works the biggest killer, which is responsible for taking the lives of 1.8 million people. He said that in women, breast cancer causes as many as 15 per cent of cancer deaths, followed by lung cancer (13.8 per cent). He said that quality education and tangible researches are prerequisite to combat different issues. Dean Faculty of Sciences Dr Asghar Bajwa said that cancer will be a leading cause of death surpassing heart illness by 2030 according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). He said that the disease caused by an uncontrolled division of abnormal cells in a part of the body. Cancer is when the cells start to grow out of control. The cancer cells keep on growing and making new cells. Dr. Aftab Ahmad, President NAYS stressed on risk factors leading to cancer particularly lung cancer and breast cancer in humans He said we could reduce 50% cases of cancer by adopting healthy life style (being physically active, reducing stress, adequate sleep, healthy environment and balanced diet). Dr Amer Jamil said that there is more physical inactivity and bad good habits and that happen to be a particularly high-risk factor for colon cancer. He said that disease can be the leading cause of death in the 21st century if prevention measures not taken. He said that Molecular Care is diagnostic facility offered by the University for the community for high quality PCR and ELISA tests at affordable rates. Dr Munir Ahmad also spoke on the occasion.