World Cancer Day: #We Can Make A Difference in the Global Fight Against #Cancer
This is a global event that holds on every 4th February to unite the world’s population in the fight against cancer. It aims to save millions of preventable deaths each year by raising awareness and education about the disease, pressing governments and individuals across the world to take action.
The primary objective of this event is to get as many people as possible around the globe to talk about cancer and to promote ways to ease its global burden. This is important because, currently, about 8.2 million people die from cancer worldwide every year, out of which, 4million people die prematurely.
Cancer is the uncontrolled growth and spread of cells. It can affect almost any part of the body. The growths often invade surrounding tissue and can metastasize to distant sites. Many cancers can be prevented by avoiding exposure to common risk factors, such as tobacco smoke. In addition, a significant proportion of cancers can be cured, by surgery, radiotherapy or chemotherapy especially if they are detected early.
Taking place under the tagline ‘we can. I can.’, World Cancer Day 2016, 2017 and 2018 explore how everyone collectively or individually can do their part to reduce the global burden of cancer.
Key Facts
- Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide, accounting for 8.2million deaths in 2012.
- Lung, stomach, liver, colon and breast cancer cause the most deaths each year.
- The most frequent types of cancer differ between men and women.
- About 30% of cancer deaths are due to the five leading behavioral and dietary risks: high body mass index, low fruit and vegetable intake, lack of physical activity, tobacco use, alcohol use.
- Tobacco use is the most important risk factor for cancer causing 22% of global cancer deaths and 71% of global lung cancer deaths.
- Cancer causing viral infection such as HBC/HCV and HPV are responsible for up to 20% of cancer deaths in low and middle income countries.
- About 70% of all cancer deaths in 2008 occurred in low and middle income countries.
- Deaths from cancer worldwide are projected to continue rising, with an estimated 13.1 million deaths in 2030.
Sources: www.worldcancerday.org
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