Kathmandu, August 26:

With the objectives of providing counselling services and timely treatment to patients, the Nepal Cancer Relief Society (NCRS) is launching a cancer helpline from September. “Nurses will provide information about the symptoms, causes of cancer, treatment centres within and outside the country through telephone,” said Diwakar Rajkarnikar, the NCRS president. “We are starting the helpline with two telephone lines from 10 am to 5 pm,” said Rajkarnikar.

While 33 per cent of cancers can be prevented by avoiding smoking and eating balanced diets, another 33 per cent can be cured if detected in an early stage, the NCRS said.

“In places where medical facilities are not available, the helpline will help in the treatment of patients by giving instructions on doses of medicines to be taken,” Rajkarnikar said. “Women who hesitate to seek advice on breast and uterus cancers can benefit from the service,” said Rajkarnikar. As per a record kept at the Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital between 1993 and 2005, altogether 544 people — 538 female and six male — had suffered from breast cancer. Out of the female patients, 94.4 per cent have children. While the oldest patient is aged 91, the youngest is aged 15.