AGARTALA, Feb 4 (TIWN): In order to create awareness among the people of Tripura about the preventive ways of cancer and dismiss the misconceptions about the disease among the people, World Cancer Day was observed across Tripura through various rallies and awareness programmes here on Thursday organised by Government and Non-Governmental organisation.

The day was observed under the banner of “we can, I can”.  World Cancer Day is part of the World Cancer Campaign, adopted following the World Summit against Cancer for the New Millennium. This summit took place on 4 February 2000, and subsequently the first ever World Cancer Day was pencilled in for 4 February 2006. That tradition has continued every year, and the custom does not stop in 2016.

With this year's 'we can I can' campaign, awareness will be raised to show the public that everyone can play a role in battling cancer.

To mark the day, an awareness rally was organized by DS Research Centre and Department of Medical Radiotherapy Technology of Tripura Institute of Paramedical Science (TIPS) Tripura Institute of Paramedical Science (TIPS) which began its journey from Vivekanda stadium traversing through different city roads of Agartala. The students of TIPS participated in the rally with few play cards including “Cancer does not mean death”, “Never give up, never surrender to cancer”, “Smoking Kills”, and many others.

Tobacco is the single most important factor which causes cancer, but the disease can be prevented by following simple steps like eating a healthy diet, managing obesity and proper exposure to the sun, a participant said on National Cancer Day.

Over 2,000 cancer patients are registered at Regional Cancer Centre in the last year. A total of 2258 cancer patients are registered in the hospital till December 31 last year.

The number of cancer patients is increasing in the state. A total of 996 people died of cancer. However, the number of deaths was 676 in 2010 in 2014.

This theme of the year's World Cancer Day is 'We Can I Can.'

According to a report released by World Health Organization (WHO), cancer, a disease characterized by the uncontrolled growth and spread of cells which can affect almost any part of the body, is a leading cause of death around the world. Lung and oral cancers are the most common cancers among men while cervical and breast cancers are the most common cancers in women.

However, awareness is the only procedure which can prevent oneself from the rising threat of cancer.