One of the main reasons for the late detection in cancer is ignorance.

This is in light of the latest statistics from the Cancer Society showing an average of 450 new cases a year are reported but due to late detection an average 460 people die each year from cancer.

Fiji Cancer Society's Sangita Maharaj said many people believe that if they do not think about the illness, it will go away and at times just do not want to admit that they are sick.