June 4, 2026
THIMPHU – The Bhutan Cancer Society (BCS) has intensified its nationwide awareness initiatives to educate the public on cancer prevention, healthy lifestyle choices, and the importance of early screening, as health experts warn that many cancer cases in the country are still being detected at advanced stages.
The awareness programmes, conducted through community outreach and public meetings across different dzongkhags, aim to improve public understanding of cancer risk factors, early warning signs, and the need for timely medical consultation.
According to Dr Ugyen Tshomo, a Gynecologist, the most common cancers affecting Bhutanese, including stomach, liver, lung, cervical, breast, esophageal, and colorectal cancers, can either be prevented or successfully treated if detected early.
However, delayed diagnosis remains a major concern, as many patients seek medical care only after the disease has already spread to vital organs such as the liver, lungs, bones, and lymph nodes. In many cases, this limits treatment options to palliative care alone.
Dr Ugyen Tshomo identified unhealthy lifestyle habits as key contributors to the rising cancer burden.
“Tobacco is a carcinogen. Alcohol, tobacco, and betel nut (doma) chewing can cause inflammation of the mouth, throat, and food pipe, causing cancer in the long run,” she said.
Dr Ugyen Tshomo added that poor eating habits and sedentary lifestyles often lead to obesity, which links to several cancers. Eating more fruits and vegetables, exercising regularly, and maintaining a healthy body weight are among the simplest ways people can reduce their cancer risk.
Beyond lifestyle factors, infections such as Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and hepatitis also significantly contribute to cancer incidence. Certain HPV strains link to cervical and oropharyngeal cancers, while hepatitis infections associate with liver cancer.
In addition to infections, she said some daily and cultural practices may unknowingly increase cancer risk. Indoor smoke from cooking and religious practices, for example, could be linked to lung cancer.
Despite growing awareness efforts, health experts report that fear, stigma, and misconceptions continue to delay early diagnosis.
“Some patients come only when cancers have spread to the liver, lungs, bones, and lymph nodes,” Dr Ugyen Tshomo said. “They die before we can find the original cancers or are fit only for palliative care.”
She said many people fear a cancer diagnosis, and some conceal their condition due to societal misconceptions such as believing cancer means death or that no treatment exists.
Health experts urge people to recognise early warning signs and seek immediate medical attention. These include common symptoms such as lumps that do not disappear, sores that do not heal, a persistent cough or hoarseness, unusual bleeding, and changes in bowel or bladder habits.
However, Dr Ugyen Tshomo said some symptoms are often mistaken for minor illnesses, which leads to delayed diagnosis and treatment.
“Pain in the upper abdomen and bleeding in the stool are often thought to be gastritis or piles, leading to very late diagnosis of stomach and colorectal cancers,” she said.
She added that early detection significantly improves survival rates and treatment outcomes, as patients diagnosed at early stages are more likely to respond well to treatment.
Bhutan currently offers free cervical and breast cancer screening services under the public health system. Cervical cancer screening is recommended every five years starting at age 30, while women over 40 are advised to undergo mammography every two years. Clinical breast examinations are also conducted during routine cervical screening visits.
However, mammogram services remain limited to the country’s three regional referral hospitals, posing accessibility challenges for some patients.
Health officials have urged the public to strictly follow recommended cancer screening schedules even without symptoms, stating that cancer can develop silently in its early stages.
They also pointed out that low screening uptake is largely driven by barriers such as distance to health facilities, time constraints, fear, and shyness.
Dr Ugyen Tshomo shared that communities, schools, and the media play a crucial role in promoting healthy lifestyles and encouraging timely health-seeking behaviour.
“Not all cancers can be prevented, but if you detect cancer in early stages, your chance of survival is much higher than if you come to the hospital too late,” she said. “We need to correct misconceptions and myths about cancer so that people are not stigmatised when they have cancer.”
According to the latest population-based cancer registry, among people aged 0 to 74, one in eight males and one in seven females is at risk of developing cancer.
Health data from 2023 to 2025 shows that stomach cancer is the leading cancer among men, with 189 cases and 69 deaths, and the second most common among women, with 149 cases and 65 deaths.
Other prevalent cancers include colorectal cancer with 144 cases and 32 deaths, liver cancer with 116 cases and 58 deaths, mouth and pharynx cancer with 67 cases and 28 deaths, and esophagus cancer with 64 cases and 29 deaths.
Among women, cervical cancer is the most frequently diagnosed, with 168 cases and 31 deaths, followed by breast cancer with 138 cases and 14 deaths, colorectal cancer with 106 cases and 36 deaths, and lung cancer with 87 cases and 41 deaths.