Today is 26th March. This day is observed as Independence Day throughout the country. 26th March is a memorial day to remember the contributions of those who sacrificed their lives in the liberation war of Bangladesh in 1971. We salute and respect all our martyrs.

Though it was not easy, we freed ourselves from the rule of Pakistan. We freed ourselves from the rule of another country but now not only us the whole world is fighting to survive a deadly disease. Cancer has become a threat to our lives.

We know that most cancers are not, but we can try to prevent them. Prevention is better than cure, isn’t it?

Let’s think, in 1971, if the brave warriors had not come forward and resisted, would have been possible for us to achieve the independence of this country? It is a small preventive step that can lead us to walk on the way to freedom from cancer.

According to WHO, 30-50% of cancer cases can be preventable.

It's very alarming that cancer is the second leading death cause in the world. That’s why we need to follow some preventive measures to reduce the possible exposure to the risk factors. 

The Preventive measures are-

• Say ‘NO’ to smoking 

Direct and indirect smoking can cause many types of cancer like lung, pancreas, mouth, throat, voice box, bladder, cervix, and kidney cancers. 

• Regular exercise

Let’s try to exercise at least 30 mins a day. It improves our health and decreases the risk of certain diseases like cancer, diabetes, and cardiac complications. Regular exercise may be like walking, exercising, gardening, dancing, going to the gym, or any kind of active game.  

• Limit alcohol

Zero is best. Alcohol consumption may cause several types of cancer oral, pharynx, larynx, oesophagus, liver, pancreas, colorectal, and breast cancer.

• Maintain a healthy weight

Obesity is linked with at least 13 cancers. Maintaining a healthy weight has lots of health benefits including reducing the risk of cancers. A healthy diet and regular physical exercise help one to maintain a healthy weight. 

• Eat a healthy diet

Eating healthy is quite simple. We need to put fruits, vegetables, and whole grains on the priority list, and red meat, processed food, and bad fats to avoid list. 

• Protect yourself from the sun

We need to avoid long-term exposure to the sun because it may cause skin cancer. Children are very sensitive, we need to protect them. It is better to avoid sun exposure from 10.00 am to 4.00 pm.

• Infections

Infectious agents like human papillomavirus (HPV), hepatitis B and C, Epstein-Barr virus and HIV can cause cancer. According to WHO, infections cause approximately 15% of total cancers. Vaccination can reduce the risk of cancer.

• Radiation, environmental, and occupational carcinogens

Different types of radiation like UV light, environmental pollutants, and occupational carcinogens may cause many types of cancers. We need to be very careful from these carcinogens. 

• Get screening tests

Early screening tests can protect from many cancers and in some cases, it may help to initiate treatment at the very primary stage. 

• Avoid risky behavior

Due to unsafe sexual practices, cancers like cervical, anal, penile, oesophagal, and vaginal may cause. 

While injecting drugs, we shouldn’t use shared injections; it may cause liver cancer.

• Get enough vitamin D

It is proven that Vitamin D helps to reduce the risk of colon cancer and prostate cancer.

“Cancer is only going to be a chapter in your life, not the whole story”