4th February: World Cancer Day
What is World Cancer Day?
A truly global event taking
place every year on 4 February, World Cancer Day unites 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 history of World Cancer
Day dates back to 1933 when Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) first
observed the significance of this day at Geneva, Switzerland. It was an
initiative of UICC to unite the entire world in order to reduce the global
cancer burden, to promote greater equity, and to integrate cancer control into
the world health and development agenda. World Cancer Day is celebrated
annually on 4th of February all over the globe and aims to save millions of
preventable deaths each year by raising awareness and educating about cancer,
and pressing governments and individuals across the world to take action
against the disease. In 2014 it has been focused on Target 5 of the World
Cancer Declaration: Reduce stigma and dispel myths about cancer, under the
tagline “Debunk the myths”. According to
UICC its importance lies in preventing the inevitable global cancer epidemic by
raising awareness against the deadly disease.
Currently, 7.6 million people
die from cancer worldwide every year, out of which, 4 million people die
prematurely (aged 30 to 69 years). Therefore the need of the hour is to raise
awareness about the disease and to develop practical strategies to address
cancer. By the year 2025, premature cancer deaths are projected to increase to
6 million per year. The estimate of 1.5 million lives which are at threat due
to cancer could be saved per year if strategies are adapted to achieve the
World Health Organization’s (WHO) ‘25 by 25’ target to reduce premature deaths
due to non-communicable diseases (NCDs) by 25% by 2025.
Why World Cancer Day is important
Currently, 8.2 million people
die from cancer worldwide every year, out of which, 4 million people die
prematurely (aged 30 to 69 years)
World Cancer Day is the ideal
opportunity to spread the word and raise the profile of cancer in people’s
minds and in the world’s media.
Cancer Control in India
World Cancer Day is an
important date where organizations and individuals are encouraged to project
the day for a concerted ‘advocacy push’, calling on governments to live up to
the new and ambitious commitments in the emerging NCD framework, and ensure that
cancer interventions, prevention, early detection, treatment and palliation,
are adequately addressed in the global health platform. There is now a need for
a worldwide commitment which would aid advancements in policy and encourage
implementation of comprehensive National Cancer Control Plans.
India is one of the few
developing countries that have a National Cancer Control Program organized by
the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Its primary objectives include
prevention of tobacco related cancers and other prevalent forms like cancer of
uterine cervix, mouth and breast as well as extension and strengthening of
therapeutic services including pain relief on a national scale through regional
cancer centers and medical colleges (including dental colleges). The current
program envisages- Recognition of new Regional Cancer Centers (RCCs);
Strengthening of existing RCCs; Development of oncology wings in medical
colleges; District Cancer Control Program; Decentralized NGO Scheme which
together would aid the concerted network of cancer control.
Cancer Research in India
Cancer control program is
perfectly complemented with current trends in cancer research in India which
aims to unravel the diverse molecular and biological changes underlying cancer
development and progression. The
research on cancer is more oriented towards understanding the tumour
micro environment, mechanisms that restrain tumorigenesis and translating novel
findings towards cancer diagnosis, prognosis and therapies. The new era science is more concerned with
personalized treatment strategies with targeted agents that are directed
specifically to the molecular abnormalities that are driving specific tumours.
World Cancer Day 2016-2018
Theme – We can. I can.
Taking place under the tagline
‘We can. I can.’, World Cancer Day 2016-2018 will explore how everyone – as a
collective or as individuals – can do their part to reduce the global burden of
cancer.
Just as cancer affects
everyone in different ways, all people have the power to take various actions
to reduce the impact that cancer has on individuals, families and communities.
World Cancer Day is a chance
to reflect on what you can do, make a pledge and take action. Whatever you
choose to do ‘We can. I can.’ make a difference to the fight against cancer.
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