Health secretary Dr. Palitha Mahipala has noted the importance of addressing modifiable risk factors to prevent thousands of new cancer cases annually.
Smoking, alcohol consumption, poor diet, and physical inactivity largely contribute to the increased incidence of cancer, he said.
Dr. Mahipala highlighted the need for early detection and timely treatment too.
He was speaking at the inauguration of the 21st annual academic sessions of the Sri Lanka College of Oncologists at Hotel Galadari in Colombo on 10 October.
Sri Lanka had more than 33,000 new cancer cases and 19,000 deaths in 2023.
He warned that global cancer cases could rise by 77 pc by 2050, with the majority of the increase expected in low and middle-income countries.
Breast, oral, lung, and colorectal cancers are the leading causes of cancer-related deaths, he added.
Oral cancer affects 16.5 men per 100,000 population, with 1,990 cases reported last year, while breast cancer affects 27.3 women per 100,000, with 4,555 cases recorded.
The SLCO’s annual sessions, themed ‘expanding horizons, enhancing lives’, feature presentations and discussions by local and international experts and runs until 14 October.
Dr. Umagauri Saravanamuttu has been appointed as new president of the SLCO, succeeding Dr. Mahendra Perera.
