Organized by the Hanoi-based Cancer Hospital (K-hospital), the World Health Organization and the Canadian Health Bridge Organization, the programme aims to strengthen community awareness of cancer prevention, especially among groups of women with a high risk of developing breast and cervical cancers.

“Most cancers can be prevented and cured. A joining together by the whole community could minimize cancer's burden on society,” said the K Hospital Director, Bui Dieu.

The communication programme should raise community awareness and develop good habits for cancer prevention, he said. This information should encourage people to seek medical attention for cancer detection and treatment at the first sign of a problem.

The Health Ministry’s recent statistics show that Vietnam has around 150,000 new cancer cases annually. About half of the patients are women and 75,000 of the total die from the disease.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there are more than 12.6 million new cancer cases globally each year, including more than 6 million cases in women.