Cancer is often found only at stage four, when little can be done for some patients. Writing in Ajker Patrika, Dr Kakoli Halder, assistant professor of microbiology at Dhaka Medical College, says cancer cannot be prevented entirely, but changes in the way we live can reduce the risk.

There is no single cause, she explains: age, heredity, smoking, unhealthy diet, excess weight, inactivity, certain chemicals, radiation and some infections all play a part. Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the main cause of cervical cancer, and long-term hepatitis B and C infection raises the risk of liver cancer.

Her advice: avoid every form of tobacco, including cigarettes, bidis, zarda and gul, and second-hand smoke; eat vegetables, fruit, pulses and grains every day and cut processed food, fast food, salt, sugar and unhealthy fats; walk or exercise regularly and keep a healthy weight.

Getting HPV and hepatitis B vaccines on a doctor's advice, safe sexual behaviour, good hygiene and treating long-term infections also matter, she writes, along with protecting the skin from strong sun, wearing a mask against air pollution and avoiding food and cosmetics with harmful chemicals.

She also advises washing hands before and after cooking, not using knives or boards from raw meat, fish or eggs on fruit and vegetables, keeping raw and cooked food apart, cooking food thoroughly and not leaving it out for long. Cancer is not the end of life, she writes; many cancers can be treated effectively if found early, so healthy living, the right vaccines and regular check-ups are essential.

The views are the writer's own.

Source: Ajker Patrika