World Cancer Day: Expert advises Nigerians on healthy lifestyle

World Cancer Day: Expert advises Nigerians on healthy lifestyle
NAN-H-43
Cancer
By Maureen Ojinaka
Enugu, Feb. 5, 2018 (NAN) Dr Vitalis Okwor, an Oncology Consultant with University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH) Ituku/Ozalla, has advised Nigerians to maintain a healthy lifestyle to prevent cancer.
Okwor gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Enugu on Monday.
The cancer specialist said a healthy lifestyle included eating balance diet with lots of vegetable and regular exercise, adding that everyone should engage in daily exercise at least for 30 minutes.
“Everyone is at risk of getting cancer, one can only prevent it by maintaining a healthy lifestyle by regular exercise, eating balance diet with enough vegetable and regular check-up,’’ he said.
He explained that early detection of the disease could help to cure it completely without spending or wasting one’s resources in treating it.
“Ninety five per cent of cancer is curable if detected early and with this, waste of money and other resources for the treatment will be avoided,’’ he said.
Okwor warned that people working in industries could get cancer of the nose or throat due to the inhaling of the chemical waste product from the industries.
According to World Health Organisation (WHO), between 30 and 50 per cent of cancer deaths could be prevented by modifying or avoiding key risk factors, including avoiding tobacco products and reducing alcohol consumption.
Others include maintaining a healthy body weight, exercising regularly and addressing infection-related risk factors.
NAN reports that the theme of 2018 World Cancer Day is: “We Can, I Can’’. (NAN)
OJI/OMO/MST
Edited by Martins Odeh/Muhammmad Suleiman Tola