Experts at a discussion stressed the need for early detection of cancer to save patients from the deadly disease through proper treatment in the capital yesterday.

They said if cancer is detected at its early stage, it is quite possible to cure the disease.

Roche Bangladesh, an international pharmaceutical company, organised the discussion at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre in the capital, marking World Cancer Day.

Cancer specialist Prof Mofazzel Hossain and Prof Selim Reza and singers Bappa Mojumdar, John Kabir and Elita Karim, among others, spoke at the meeting.

The speakers said the main problem of cancer victims in Bangladesh is not to disclose it to physicians at the primary level.

Discussing seven specific issues related to the state of cancer in Bangladesh, the cancer specialists said the symptoms of cancer are hardly removable spots in the body, unnatural bleeding, pain in breast, problem in urine as well as long time cough.

They said cancer treatment is now available in Bangladesh but detection of the disease is very important to fight it.

According to official data, about 15,000 women are affected with breast cancer each year in Bangladesh and over 7,000 of them die. And around 12,000 women are affected from cervical cancer each year.