By- Radio ML
Tunisia has witnessed a national increase in the number of cancer cases, with new cases in 2024 reaching approximately 22,690 compared to 22,201 cases in 2023, according to what the Acting Head of the Epidemiology Department at the Salah Azaiz Institute, Hayam Khayari, stated to (TAP). Hayam Khayari added that these new cases are distributed between 11,970 cases among males and 10,720 cases among females. Breast cancer ranked first among women in 2024, with about 4,400 cases, while lung cancer ranked first among men with about 3,000 cases. Colon and rectal cancer came second with 2,300 new cases among men and 1,940 new cases among women. In the third and fourth ranks, bladder cancer spread with (1,447 cases) and prostate cancer with (1,155 cases) among men, while endometrial cancers spread with (707 cases) and thyroid cancer with (670 cases) among women. The Acting Head of the Epidemiology Department at the Salah Azaiz Institute, Hayam Khayari, explained that these statistics are based on the latest data issued by the National Cancer Registry in the northern part of the country, noting that the National Cancer Registry is the main tool for monitoring the development of this disease in Tunisia, as all recorded cases are accurately documented. Since its establishment in 1994, the registry has maintained its continuity, making it a pivotal tool in guiding national strategies to combat cancer, according to Hayam Khayari. The same spokesperson emphasized the need to intensify prevention efforts given the continuous rise in cancer rates, through two main axes: primary prevention and early diagnosis. Primary prevention includes combating smoking, following a healthy diet, regular physical activity, reducing alcohol consumption, maintaining a healthy weight, and vaccination against human papillomavirus (HPV) to prevent cervical cancer. Early diagnosis (secondary prevention) includes regular screenings to detect certain types of cancer, such as cervical cancer through routine vaginal exams, and breast cancer through periodic clinical examinations, with close monitoring of cases with a family history. This is in addition to regular screenings for colon and rectal cancer through the fecal immunochemical test available in primary health centers, and skin cancers that require early examinations upon the appearance of suspicious symptoms. Hayam Khayari stressed the importance of enhancing community awareness about cancer symptoms, calling on citizens to seek medical consultation immediately upon noticing any abnormal symptoms, confirming that early diagnosis significantly increases the chances of recovery.