Cancer attributed to 17% of deaths; HPA urges lifestyle changes

The Health Protection Agency (HPA) renewed its call to make lifestyle changes and do regular screening to reduce the risk of cancer – which accounts for 17 percent of the deaths in Maldives each year.

In a statement on occasion of World Cancer Day on Tuesday, HPA noted that cancer is the second leading cause of deaths globally, accounting for nearly 10 million deaths or nearly one in six deaths annually.

According to a report compiled by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2020, cancer accounts for 17 percent of deaths in the Maldives.

The most common types of cancer in the Maldives includes breast cancer, lung cancer, blood cancer, thyroid cancer and prostate cancer

HPA said that its biggest focus on World Cancer Day is to raise awareness regarding cancer and educate people on risk factors and prevention.

Research shows that 40 percent of cancers are linked to unhealthy lifestyles choices such as smoking and other avoidable factors.

“Therefore, avoiding such acts and doing screenings for early detection will reduce the risk for this disease and will also improve the chances for remission among cancer patients,” said the HPA.

Some of the common unhealthy lifestyle choices linked to cancer includes:

• Smoking or exposure to secondhand smoke
• Unhealthy diets
• Areca-nut chewing
• Lack of exercise
• Excessive body weight
• Alcohol consumption
• Exposure to ultraviolet radiation

Some of the preventive measures that can be taken against cancer includes:

• HPV (human papillomavirus) vaccination
• Avoiding smoking and secondhand smoke
• Avoiding areca-nut chewing
• Avoiding ultraviolet radiation
• Breastfeeding
• Practicing safe sex
• Including plenty of fruits and vegetables in the diet
• Exercising regularly and maintain weight at one level
• Regular cancer screenings

The theme for World Cancer Day 2025 is "United by Unique", highlighting the individuality of each person's cancer journey while emphasizing their collective strength.