Kathmandu, March 1

More than 100 people have undergone cancer screening at Bir Hospital since the hospital started the service on February 27.

The service includes screening for cervical cancer, breast cancer and colorectal cancer. “We started the service as the country is witnessing a rise in the number of cancer patients. When the disease is detected in its early stages, treatment becomes easier,” said Dr Bhupendra Basnet, director at Bir Hospital.

According to Bhaktapur Cancer Hospital, 3,451 new cancer patients were registered in the hospital in 2017 alone. The hospital had recorded 3,260 cancer patients in the year 2016.

As per World Health Organisation, cancer is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. The number of new cases is expected to rise by about 70 per cent over the next two decades. Cancer is the second leading cause of death globally and was responsible for 8.8 million deaths in 2015. Globally, nearly one in six deaths is caused due to cancer.

Approximately 70 per cent of deaths from cancer occur in low- and middle-income countries. Ministry of Health said 6,178 new cancer patients were receiving treatment in hospitals across the country in the fiscal 2016-17.