World Cancer Day will be observed Wednesday to raise public awareness about cancer and encourage support for those affected by the disease.
The day is marked under the leadership of the Union for International Cancer Control, a non-governmental organisation previously known as the International Union Against Cancer.
The observance aims to increase awareness of cancer and promote collective action to prevent the disease and support patients and survivors.
According to the Global Cancer Observatory, cancer claimed 116,598 lives in Bangladesh in 2022, while 167,256 people were newly diagnosed during the year.
The World Health Organization said cancer causes around 8.2 million deaths globally each year.
Breast cancer remains one of the most prevalent forms of the disease, affecting about 105 million women worldwide, while 30 to 50 per cent of cancer-related deaths can be prevented by avoiding tobacco use.
A 2025 study by Bangladesh Medical University found that tobacco use was linked to nearly half, or 46 per cent, of cancer cases in Bangladesh.
