Angau starts free mouth, breast cancer screening

 FREE mouth and breast cancer screening will take place for two days starting today at Angau Memorial General Hospital in Lae, Morobe.

The cancer screening and awareness on cervical cancer will be carried out through a series of workshop at the hospital’s Gware Wing. 

The awareness has been put in place by the Papua New Guinea Cancer Foundation in partnership with Angau Hospital, National Cancer Treatment Centre and Papua New Guinea Cancer Relief Society.

The two-day programme’s primary focus will be on cancer awareness and prevention. 

The Cancer Foundation team will also conduct surveys in order to get a better understanding of the overall level of cancer knowledge in Papua New Guinea. 

The programme starts at 10am and finishes at 3pm.

Chief executive officer of the PNG Cancer Foundation Dadi Toka Jr said there is a very high chance of cancer affecting individuals and their families. 

He said PNG Cancer Foundation is taking the fight against cancer in Lae with education, awareness and prevention as the key messages for the campaign.

He said smoking tobacco, chewing betel nut and consumption of alcohol were all scientifically proven to increase the chances of getting some types of cancer including mouth, breast and cervical cancers. 

“It is better for people to do regular exercise and eat healthy balanced meals that may help reduce the risk of getting cancer,” he said.

“People, especially mothers, must not be ashamed of going to hospitals for mouth, breast or cervical cancer checks. I encourage you that shame will only kill you, go to hospitals for check. And to reduce the cancer risk one must eat healthy foods and exercise regularly.”

According to Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research findings, one out of every 10 deaths in the country is caused by cancer.