TO COMMEMORATE World Cancer Day 2012, which is celebrated globally every February 4, Brunei will be observing its part by increasing awareness and holding various activities to ensure citizens are aware of the number one killer in the Sultanate on February 26, 2012.

The event will be held at the Indoor Stadium beginning as early as 7am in the morning and will feature various activities such as a walkaparade, zumba, an opportunity for counselling on cancer prevention and a a display of a giant human cancer ribbon.

All these activities will later be followed by an educational roadshow to a number of public places, according to a statement from the Ministry of Health.

With cancer being on top of the table as number one killer, the ministry stated that during the event, they would like to convey and highlight cancer awareness as well as prevention messages such as avoiding smoking, spending time doing physical activity, eating plenty of vegetables and fruit, conducting self breast examinations and pap smear tests to detect breast and cervical cancer respectively and to see a doctor if the individual has experienced prolonged coughing, sore throat, shortness of breath, diarrhoea or constipation.

"All this is done with one aim to spread the message loud and clear on cancer! The ministry and our partners call on everyone to do whatever they can to help spread the word," the statement read.

This year, World Cancer Day 2012 has been themed 'Together It Is Possible' and is organised by the ministry and its partners; the National Cancer Centre, Jerudong Park Medical Centre(JPMC) and the students and staff from Business School under the Ministry of Education.

The Ministry would also like to remind the public that for further information, they can follow up http://www.twitter.com/CancerBrunei; http://www.facebook.com/CancerBrunei; Google+ CancerBrunei or go to CancerBrunei.blogspot.com.

Cancer commemoration is an annual event with a goal to raise awareness around the world.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) supports International Union Against Cancer to promote ways to ease global burden of cancer, with of recurring themes of cancer prevention as well as improving quality of life for cancer patients.

The Brunei Times