World Cancer Day is observed every year on February 4 that is expected to increase worldwide awareness of the disease. World Cancer Day began in 2000 at the main World Summit Against Cancer, which was held in Paris.
The occasion targets saving many preventable deaths every year by bringing issues to light and schooling about the sickness, squeezing legislatures and people across the world to make a move. The Day was established by the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) to help the objectives of the World Cancer Declaration, written in 2008. The essential objective of World Cancer Day is to fundamentally decrease sickness and passing brought about by disease by 2020. As a bit today, schools have taken the initiative to create school events to spread awareness by elocution competitions, slogan writing competitions, creating posters and sharing world cancer day quotes. But this is not enough, in order to understand more let’s know more about facts on world cancer day.
- Cancer is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide, with approximately 14 million new cases in 2012
- The number of new cases is expected to rise by about 70 per cent over the next 2 decades
- Cancer is the second leading cause of death globally and was responsible for 8.8 million deaths in 2015. Globally, nearly 1 in 6 deaths is due to cancer
- Approximately 70 per cent of deaths from cancer occur in low- and middle-income countries
- Around one-third of deaths from cancer are due to the 5 leading behavioural and dietary risks: high body mass index, low fruit and vegetable intake, lack of physical activity, tobacco use, and alcohol use
- Tobacco use is the most important risk factor for cancer and is responsible for approximately 22 per cent of cancer deaths
- Cancer-causing infections, such as hepatitis and human papillomavirus (HPV), are responsible for up to 25 per cent of cancer cases in low- and middle-income countries
- Late-stage presentation and inaccessible diagnosis and treatment are common. In 2017, only 26 per cent of low-income countries reported having pathology services generally available in the public sector. More than 90 per cent of high-income countries reported treatment services are available compared to less than 30 per cent of low-income countries
- The economic impact of cancer is significant and is increasing. The total annual economic cost of cancer in 2010 was estimated at approximately USD 1.16 trillion
- Only 1 in 5 low- and middle-income countries have the necessary data to drive cancer policy
- Between 30-50 per cent of cancers can currently be prevented by avoiding risk factors and implementing existing evidence-based prevention strategies
- The cancer burden can also be reduced through early detection of cancer and management of patients who develop cancer
- Many cancers have a high chance of cure if diagnosed early and treated adequately.
- More than half of all cancers are preventable
- There are more than 200 types and subtypes of cancer
Conclusion
Although we know the potential of threats that can cause cancer, it is up to us to educate and prevent this deadly disease by spreading the word. So do your part and let’s make the a world a better place.
