World Cancer Day 2013
World Cancer Day 2013
By
Dr Arvind Kumar
Each year 4th February is observed as World Cancer Day. World
Cancer Day is part of the World Cancer Campaign, which responds to the Charter
of Paris adopted at the World Summit against Cancer for the New Millennium on 4
February 2000. It called for a strong alliance between researchers, health-care
professionals, patients, governments, industry partners and the media to fight
cancer. In 2013 the theme will be "Dispel damaging Myths and
misconceptions about cancer", in particular the myth that cancer is a
disease affecting rich countries - cancer affects everyone, no matter where
they may be in the world! World Cancer Day is an initiative of the Union for
International Cancer Control (UICC), through which we aim to help save millions
of preventable deaths each year by raising awareness and education about
cancer, and pressing governments and individuals across the world to take
action against the 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).i So
unless urgent action is taken to raise awareness about the disease and to
develop practical strategies to address cancer, by 2025, this is projected to
increase to an alarming 6 million premature cancer deaths per year. Each year
World Cancer Day focuses on a different issue that we can try and change in
ourselves. In the past these have included giving children a smoke-free
environment and encouraging healthy diets and exercise. Cancer kills more
people than do AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis put together. Measures to prevent
cancer include eschewing tobacco, having good dietary habits, physical
activity, maintaining a healthy diet, environmental health, prevention of
cancer causing infections and limiting alcohol intake.
#Cancer #AlcoholIntake #WorldCancer #AIDS #Children #Malaria #Tuberculosis
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