My dad died of pancreatic cancer when I was only 11-years-old, leaving me to grow up without the presence of a father. My Aunt, diagnosed with breast cancer in her early thirties, had both breasts removed. And, I was there when a close family friend suffered in agony and died a slow, painful death caused by lung cancer.
My life has been profoundly affected by cancer, and, most likely, you or someone you know has been affected as well.
Preventing cancer and raising quality of life for cancer patients are recurring themes each year on February 4 when the World Health Organization (WHO) supports International Union Against Cancer (UICC) to promote ways to ease the global burden of cancer.
Each year, 12 million people receive a cancer diagnosis and 7.6 million people die of cancer. If no action is taken, the worldwide cancer burden is projected to reach 26 million new diagnoses in the year 2030 and 17 million deaths, with the most rapid increases occurring in low- and middle-income countries.
The good news is that experts estimate that approximately 40% of cancers are potentially preventable. You can significantly reduce the risk of you or your family developing cancers related to tobacco use, heavy alcohol consumption, excessive sun exposure and obesity by avoiding these risk factors and encouraging healthy behavior such as regular exercise and eating healthily.
In addition, some cancers such as cervical, liver and stomach cancers are known to be caused by chronic infections. Prevention of these infections is possible through interventions such as vaccination, antibiotics, improved sanitation and learning simple avoidance strategies.
World Cancer Day, under the campaign slogan “Cancer can be prevented too”, is led by the International Union Against Cancer (UICC), the leading international NGO which unites over 300 member organizations in more than 100 countries in the global fight against cancer through the implementation of the World Cancer Declaration.
Support World Cancer Day 2010 - February 4th. Visit www.uicc.org and help spread the message.
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