THE Bacolod City Council approved a resolution supporting the observance of National Cancer Consciousness Week every third week of January and urged the Bacolodnons to focus on a healthy lifestyle as a deterrence to the disease.

The resolution, authored by Councilor Bartolome Orola, was approved during the regular session on Wednesday, January 16.

Orola said every third week of the month of January, the Department of Health (DOH) celebrates National Cancer Consciousness Week to spread cancer awareness.

He said the observance of this year’s National Cancer Consciousness Week focuses on the avoidance of exposure to the risk factors diseases such as physical inactivity, improper diet and nutrition, smoking and use of alcohol.

Orola noted that according to studies of the World Health Organization, cancer placed third in the 10 leading causes of mortality, and is a major public health threat worldwide.

“It is a killer disease when not detected early and poses a burden on patient, families, communities, sectors of the society, and the national development of the country,” Orola said.

He said lifestyle choices have an impact on overall health status, It is a well-known fact that many types of cancer are directly associated with unhealthy habits of man, including smoking and abusive use of alcohol.

“There is a need to spread awareness to the public on the proper prevention and control of the disease including among others, early detection through screening of high risks individual to halt the progress of the disease, lifestyle change, and proper nutrition and eating habit,” he added. (MAP)