Bhaktapur, Dec. 15 (RSS): One per cent of the total population of the world has developed cancer, and in Nepal around 40,000 people are found to be cancer positive, according to a who report. Every year another 15,000 cases are added and around 6,000 people die of the disease.

Disclosing this, a press meet organised by Bhaktapur Cancer Hospital also said most cancer patients can be cured if diagnosed on time and treatment provided promptly.

Have you developed symptoms such as difficulty in swallowing, sores that do not heal for a long time, changes in your voice, excessive bleeding from the nose, change in the colour and size of moles or constipation ?. If so it could indicate cancer.

Medical director of the hospital and senior cancer specialist Dr Madan Kumar Piya is of the opinion that people are not sufficiently cautious about cancer, the second most dangerous disease after hiv-aids.

Most cases are rushed to hospital when it is too late for them to be saved even with the full range of treatment.

Cancer in Nepal mostly develops through smoking, irregular food habits and pollution. The malady is treated in three different ways including radio therapy, chemotherapy and surgery.

Only one third of the patients here are saved or their lives prolonged as 80 to 90 percent are brought in for treatment at the final stages of the disease, Dr. Piya said.

Mostly cancer of the lungs and digestive organs are found in males whereas women are more afflicted by cancer of the breast and womb.

Chairman of Nepal Cancer Relief Association Hari Prasad Paudel said that curative and preventive measures are being taken at its 26 branches in a bid to combat the killer disease.

With the establishment of a cancer hospital in the country and availability of radiotherapy, the number of cancer patients going abroad for treatment of this malady has declined, he adds.

Senior consultant radio therapist Dr. Arati Shaha says some 18 cancer patients of lung, throat and womb have been treated so far through radio therapy installed at the hospital.

The cancer patients can take advantage of the radiotherapy which is helpful in healing in an affordable manner.

The centre is currently providing radiotherapy, chemotherapy and surgical services and the flow of patients is gradually growing, public relation officer Sheela Saiju said.

The hospital, a non-profit autonomous institution has also started to render services for women in identifying womb and breast cancer by establishing a separate clinic.