To spread awareness & encourage prevention, detection and treatment of cancer among people in State, ‘World Cancer Day’ has been observed in all government health establishments in the State.Giving this detail in press communiqué, the Health & Family Welfare Minister Balbir Singh Sidhu said Cancer is curable if found in first stage and this year’s theme for World Cancer Day is “I Am & I Will” which highlights the value of every individual to fight against cancer. The Minister said that State Government has organized the Cancer awareness and Screening Camps at all the health facilities in all the districts so that public could make aware of early symptoms and prevention of Cancer. He said that of the 1235 patients diagnosed with cancer under Screening Programme of the Health Department, 373 patients for Oral Cancer, 427 for Breast Cancer and 435 patients for Cervical Cancer were diagnosed so far. He added that the 30+ population is being screened by ANMs for 3 Common Cancers namely Oral, Breast and Cervical. Around 4200 ANMs and more than 18000 other paramedical staff have been trained for screening to help early detection of these Cancers. The suspected cases detected during screening were referred for further investigations and treatment. Mr. Balbir Singh Sidhu said that Sarbat Sehat Bima Yojna has proved boon for the cancer patients under which 2183 such cases got the tertiary health services in the empanelled hospitals. “Under Mukh Mantri Punjab Cancer Raahat Kosh scheme, financial assistance up to Rs. 1.50 Lakhs (One lakh fifty thousand) is also being provided for the treatment to each cancer patients and financial assistance of Rs.793 crore has been sanctioned to 60872 cancer patients till date” he added.