80% of cancer patients in Sri Lanka have got the diseases from smoking. Hence the challenge before doctors and health administrators is to carry out not only curative medicine but preventive medicine as well, said Healthcare and Nutrition Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva yesterday. Addressing a batch of 200 doctors who had completed their medical internships at the Narahenpita National Blood Transfusion Centre, he said that cancer had become one of the major health problems in the country. "Cancer has spread to epidemic proportions in Sri Lanka. Though we are not in a position to pinpoint the exact cause for the increase of this dreaded disease, smoking and alcoholism have played a big role in the spread of cancer among the people. Medical studies have to be carried out to ascertain whether excessive consumption of junk food and meat has also contributed to the rise in the incidence of cancer,' Mr. de Silva said. The sharp increase of breast and cervical cancer among women is another health issue that worries health authorities. The International Cancer Research Institute in Lyon, France has agreed to carry out a study on cervical and breast cancer in Sri Lanka at his request, Mr. de Silva said.The doctors, who received their appointment letters, had also been given atraining in hospital and financial administration and labour relations. Health Services Director General Dr. Ajith Mendis and Deputy Directors Dr. Vimal Jayantha and Dr. P.G.Mahipala also were present at the occasion.