People unaware of risks: Study

A SURVEY has shown that half of the participants did not know that chewing betel nut, smoking and drinking alcohol could increase their chances of developing cancer.
PNG Cancer Foundation programme coordinator Loyla Matthew said the survey was conducted by the community outreach prevention education programme in Morobe and Central.
“Our programmes team discovered that 50 per cent said they did not openly talk about their health and that family is the biggest influence factor for them,” Mathew said.
Throughout this month, Paradise Foods Ltd is supporting the work of the Cancer Foundation by labelling the Tru Tru Wara bottled water with the pink ribbon in recognition of women’s health awareness.
It has organised community cancer awareness activities throughout the country.
Mathew said the foundation visited Tubuseria village and Agevairu station in Central to conduct the programme. In Lae, staff from the National Cancer Treatment Centre conducted cancer awareness at the Malaita United church last week.
Mathew said health talks covered prevention of mouth cancer, cervical and breast and cancers affecting women in the country.
Health educators guided participants through the steps to do a breast self-check, encouraging both men and women to practice this once every month. More than 420 participants, including Tubuseria Primary Schools students attended the programme in Central.