Refraining from smoking and using the allied products can reduce about 85 percent and up to 40 percent respectively the risk of developing lung cancer, the speakers said.

According to a survey on patients at Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) from 1985 to 1992, about 21 percent were found to have developed lung cancer, 13 percent larynx, 12 percent blood and five percent windpipe cancers.

The same study said 24 percent of the women patients of the oncology department were diagnosed with cervical cancer, 17 percent with breast cancer and 12 percent with oral cancer.

The speakers said most of the cancers can be cured if detected at early stage and there are many signs to detect cancer.

Organised by Bangladesh Cancer Foundation, the seminar was addressed by Prof Mizanur Rahman, director general of the health services, and Dr Md Monwar Hossain and Dr Md Habibullah Talukder, president and secretary general of the foundation.

The foundation has established a medicine bank for poor cancer patients. It has also raised patients' welfare fund to benefit them.

The foundation is going to launch a massive cancer awareness campaign soon, especially at all academic institutions starting from the capital.