Adopt healthy lifestyle to prevent cancer: Dr Bhagat

Cancer is a life-threatening disease that can be fatal if its symptoms are ignored and treatment is delayed, warned Civil Surgeon Kapurthala, Dr Sanjeev Bhagat, on the occasion of National Cancer Awareness Day.

Citing the World Health Organisation, Dr Bhagat emphasised that cancer is the second leading cause of death globally. He stressed that early detection significantly improves treatment outcomes, but a lack of awareness often results in patients neglecting early symptoms, leading to diagnoses at advanced stages with reduced survival chances.

District Family Welfare Officer, Dr Ravjeet Singh, also highlighted the importance of being aware of cancer symptoms for timely medical intervention. He listed common warning signs, including fatigue, persistent fever, sudden weight loss, unexplained body pain, skin discoloration, unusual discharge or bleeding, non-healing mouth ulcers, and lumps in any part of the body. Dr Singh urged the public to consult specialist doctors immediately if any of these symptoms are observed.

Dr Singh further emphasised that awareness is a key tool in preventing cancer. Along with early diagnosis and treatment, adopting a healthy lifestyle is critical. He recommended regular physical activity, a nutritious diet, avoiding tobacco and smoking, staying away from alcohol, and undergoing routine screenings as essential measures to reduce cancer risk.

The awareness seminar was attended by several officials, including SMO Dr Parminder Kaur, DMEIO Jaswinder Kaur, DPM Vinay Malhan, MO Ram Singh, Deputy Mass Media Officer Sharandeep Singh, Sukhdiyal Singh, BCC Jyoti Anand and other key figures.