BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Feb 5 (NNN-BB NEWS) – Cancer patients in Brunei have increased by 17 percent from 2014 to 2018, compared to the period of between 2009 to 2013, Health Minister, Haji Mohammad Isham, said.
According to the minister, on World Cancer Day, which fell on Tuesday (yesterday), about 644 nationals and permanent residents of Brunei Darussalam were diagnosed with cancer, and the number of cancer deaths in 2018 was 304.
In other words, cancer accounted for one in four (28 percent) of deaths among citizens and permanent residents of Brunei in 2018. The number of cancer patients also represented a 17-percent increase over the past five years from 2014-2018, compared to 2009-2013.
Statistics show that, the highest rates of cancer in women were breast cancer (100 cases), colorectal cancer (49 cases) and cervical cancer (32 cases).
The minister also cited 2018 statistics, saying, the lifetime risks of developing cancer were 29 percent, or one in three, for women and 27 percent, or one in four, for men.
In men, the highest rates were colorectal (53 cases), lungs (25 cases), and liver and prostate (both 18 cases).
“In conjunction with World Cancer Day, Brunei is involved in active participation to raise awareness, as well as, taking action and measures to prevent and reduce the effects of cancer,” Haji Mohammad Isham said, in the message.
