Walk to cancer awareness

By TAN HUEY YIN

Liver cancer, breast cancer and lung cancer are prevalent in ethnic groups. However, there is a silent killer which over 25 million Malaysian men and women might encounter.

With the cancer burden rising in Malaysia, Ministry of Health has planned Mouth Cancer Awareness Week 2010. OCRCC organized a mouth cancer awareness walkathon on 14^th November at Bukit Jalil recreational park. The registration was free of change and the participants could collect the T-shirt which cost RM25 during the event day. The event started from 7.30a.m.until 11a.m. Participants were required to complete a 4 km distance in the walkathon.

Faculty of Dentistry University Malaya Professor Dr. Rosnah Bt Mohd Zain and Head Department of Oral Surgery, Dr.Nan Mahadzir Bin Wan Mustafa gave a speech in the opening ceremony. Professor denoted that many people are not aware of the mouth cancer instead of other prevalent cancers. The intention of the organization to choose the recreational park as a venue is to create awareness of mouth cancer among the Malaysians.

According to the research, the highest percentage among Indians and the indigenous group to be contracted with mouth cancer in peninsular Malaysia. "The oral cancer is a cancer that occurs on lip, tongue, cheek, throat, gums and larynx." the professor added. The smokers and alcoholics face a key risk for mouth cancer.

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The professor encouraged the citizens to practice a healthy lifestyle and consult the dentist every month in order to get rid mouth cancer. The other advice is to avoid smoking cigarettes and having heavy alcohol consumption can decrease the risk for mouth cancer. She felt happy as the number of participants for the event is increasing throughout the years.

OCRCC invited True Fitness Centre coaches to demonstrate some simple and easy warm up drills before the run. Participants and joggers enjoyed the warm up session as energetic rhythm of the songs were played in the background.

The event went smoothly and the participants were given certificates for their participation of the event.

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