Doctors advised curious listeners that cancer is a curable disease if detected at an earlier stage, at the cancer awareness interaction session in Ramakrishna Institute of Oncology and Research, here on Saturday.

Interaction with the audience about breast cancer awareness on the final day of the Breast Cancer month, October, oncologists from the institute said that taking the right food, healthy living, regular exercise, and timely medical checkups can help eradicate breast cancer.

Dr.P.Guhan, the Director of the institute said that the survival rate of the disease has increased over the years, adding that about 20 to 30 out of one lakh women are affected by the disease. On the causes of breast cancer, Dr.Guhan said that smoking, alcohol consumption, consuming pan masala, heavy use of fertilizers, and stress can cause breast cancer.

Emphasizing on the importance of public awareness, he said that even educated people do not follow the instructions and end up complicating the disease. “People should stay away from superstitious beliefs, especially regarding cancer,” he said.

On the question whether cancer could be transferred to children, the surgeon said that the medical fraternity was not yet sure about it. “However, a healthy lifestyle would prevent it,” he said.

As many as 100 women from various organizations and different walks of life, including college students, professors and self-help groups, attended the event. One of the cancer survivors who attended the event said that cancer is not a killer disease; it can be killed if unwanted fears are removed.