Israt Jahan: A large number of people die from cancer every year. Various speculations are constantly being created about it. Cancer has been a deadly disease since time immemorial. No one is safe from this disease. However, due to the great improvement in current medical science, it is becoming possible to get rid of this deadly disease. But that’s not much. It consists of several steps. If someone is diagnosed with this cancer in the first stage, it can be cured with proper treatment and great morale. But if someone is diagnosed with cancer in the final stage, it can be said to be fatal. According to the researchers, “Asia and Africa have the highest number of cancer cases compared to the global ratio. Bangladesh belongs to the Asian continent. The number of cancer cases has been increasing here for the past few years”. According to the information of the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), “Every year in Bangladesh, about one hundred and nine thousand people die of cancer. Thus, the main cause of death is lack of timely treatment”. According to the statistics of this organization, “One in every five men and one in every six women in Bangladesh are affected by cancer”. Currently, in Bangladesh, the risk is higher in girls. Nowadays breast and uterine cancer are more common in girls.
The risk of death from breast cancer is increasing day by day. According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), “About 20 percent of women in Bangladesh are diagnosed with breast cancer and about 16 percent die of it”. According to statistics, “Every year in Bangladesh, more than 13 thousand women are affected by breast cancer. Among them, about 7 thousand women die”. Another statistic found, “Cancer incidence rate among women is 24 percent, the mortality rate is 16.9 percent”. According to the data of Global Cancer Statistics (Globocan), “About 19 lakh women are diagnosed with breast cancer in Bangladesh every year”. Now is the time for men to be aware too. Because now this problem has also appeared in men. Generally, women over 50 years of age are at higher risk of getting this cancer. 13-14 years of age is the right time to start the period but many girls’ periods start at 10-11 years of age. As a result, those girls are at risk of breast cancer. Sometimes this problem is also hereditary. If the mother has cancer in her body, the daughter is also at risk. A lack of awareness drags the victim toward death. If the cancer is detected at an early stage, it is possible to save 90 percent of the patients. Therefore, cancer experts have suggested breast examinations once every year to prevent breast cancer.
There is no end to the shame when someone hears the word womb. Hence unconsciousness is created. We know very little about why and when cervical cancer occurs. At present, the number of cervical cancer patients in Bangladesh is gradually increasing every year along with the risk of death. Every year about 12 thousand women are affected by this cancer in Bangladesh. About 7 thousand women died. According to statistics, “a woman dies of cervical cancer every 2 minutes worldwide and 50 million women are newly diagnosed every year”. 30 percent of women with cancer in Bangladesh are affected by uterine cancer. According to Wikipedia, “Cervical cancer is most common in women between the ages of 15-45, but a woman is infected with the virus about 2 to 20 years before symptoms of cancer appear”. Every year more than 10 thousand women die of cervical cancer in the country. Cervical cancer is the second leading cause of female cancer death in Bangladesh (Source: Prothom Alo). Every two minutes a woman dies of cervical cancer worldwide. In the South Asian country of Bangladesh, approximately 13,000 women are newly diagnosed with cervical cancer each year and approximately 6,600 women die each year (2010 Outlook). In other words, 18 women are dying of cervical cancer on average across the country every day (source: Wikipedia). There is the ‘Peps smear test’ which is a painless and cost-effective test to detect cervical cancer. In the case of married women, this test can be started from the age of 21 and it is recommended to be tested once in two years. Those between the ages of 30 and 64, whose results are ‘normal’ three times, should have this test every three years. A total of three doses of the vaccine can be taken from the age of 10 years to prevent this cancer, but it is prohibited to take this vaccine during pregnancy. There is the ‘Peps smear test’ which is a painless and cost-effective test to detect cervical cancer. In the case of married women, this test can be started from the age of 21 and it is recommended to be tested once in two years. Those between the ages of 30 and 64, whose results are ‘normal’ three times, should have this test every three years. A total of three doses of the vaccine can be taken from the age of 10 years to prevent this cancer, but it is prohibited to take this vaccine during pregnancy. According to Wikipedia, “Vaccines against the viruses HPV-16, HPV-18, HPV-6, and HPV-11 have been discovered. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommend that the vaccine be effective between the ages of nine and twenty-five.” Due to frequent childbirth, polygamy, and lack of awareness, this problem has to be faced.
According to a cancer researcher, “Child marriage is a risk factor for cervical cancer and late marriage is a risk factor for breast cancer. According to her, nowadays many girls decide to get married late thinking about building their careers. By the age of 28, a girl should prepare to give birth to her first child and become a mother. Otherwise, there is a risk of breast cancer”. Due to shame, girls face this problem but cannot tell anyone. So it is important not to be ashamed but to talk openly about this problem and be aware.
Author: Israt Jahan is the Student of Chittagong College
