World Cancer Day, organized by the Union for International Cancer Control, is an opportunity to highlight the wide range of actions needed to effectively prevent, treat and control the many forms of cancer.
The day, the theme of which in 2015 is "Not beyond us", offers WHO an opportunity to demonstrate the Organization’s policies and programmes for countries to reduce their cancer burden. The Global action plan for the prevention and control of NCDs 2013-2020 offers the overall framework for country action.
The day, the theme of which in 2015 is "Not beyond us", offers WHO an opportunity to demonstrate the Organization’s policies and programmes for countries to reduce their cancer burden. The Global action plan for the prevention and control of NCDs 2013-2020 offers the overall framework for country action.
The Global action plan calls for national, international and multisectoral action across multiple areas to reduce cancer risks in populations, and to strengthen health care delivery systems for people with cancer. Environmental and infectious causes are important for cancer prevention so that WHO’s guidance in those areas is part of the comprehensive approach.
Campaign Key Messages
Choosing Healthy Lives
Reducing the social and environmental risk factors for cancer and empowering people to make healthy choices, are key components to achieving the global overarching goal of reducing premature deaths from NCDs by 25% by 2025 and reaching the aspirational targets of the World Cancer Declaration.
Delivering Early Detection
Ensuring the availability of, and access to, early detection programmes for cancer can significantly reduce the cancer burden in all countries.
Achieving Treatment For All
All people have the right to access quality, effective cancer treatment and services on equal terms, regardless of geography and without suffering economic hardship as a consequence.
Maximising Quality Of Life
Understanding and responding to the full impact of cancer on emotional, mental and physical wellbeing will maximise the quality of life for patients, their families and carers.
Cancer is a generic term for a large group of diseases that can affect any part of the body. Other terms used are malignant tumours and neoplasms. One defining feature of cancer is the rapid creation of abnormal cells that grow beyond their usual boundaries, and which can then invade adjoining parts of the body and spread to other organs. Cancer is one of the leading causes of death in the world, particularly in developing countries. In the WHO Western Pacific Region, it is estimated that close to 4.07 million new cases occurred in 2008 (2.31 million in men and 1.75 million in women). Almost 2.6 million people in the Region died from cancer that same year.
Source of Information: WHO