Introduction to World Cancer Day
World Cancer Day is an international day, annually observed on the 4th of February to raise awareness against cancer. This day is marked globally to encourage cancer prevention, early detection, screening, continuous care, and treatment. The Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) has created the cancer awareness day in 2000. UICC leads this day and also holds cancer awareness activities and events globally. World Cancer Day provides an opportunity for all international organizations, medical institutes, healthcare professionals, and social activists to educate the public about cancer and its impacts.
What is Cancer and its Symptoms?
The rapid creation of abnormal cells in a patient’s body is termed. These cells grow beyond their usual boundaries and then invade other adjoining parts of the patient’s body while spreading further to other organs. Although, the detection of cancer’s symptoms mainly depends on its type and grade. However, sudden weight loss, continuous fatigue, skin changes, tissue mass, or lumps, unusual bleeding, fever, and persistent cough are the common symptoms of this disease.
Casualties Caused by Cancer
According to World Health Organization (WHO), cancer is one of the leading causes of death globally. Cancer accounted for nearly 10 million deaths worldwide in 2020 or almost one in every six deaths. While, cancer is becoming more prevalent in Pakistan. In 2020, around 19 million new cases were reported and recorded in Pakistan . American Cancer Society also predicted that about 609,820 cancer deaths and 1,958,310 new cancer cases will be reported in the United States in 2023.
Deadliest Types and Reasons for Cancer
Among the most common types of cancers according to WHO are, breast, lung, colon and rectum, prostate, liver, stomach, and skin cancers. While the major reasons for cancer are, excessive tobacco use, alcohol consumption, ultraviolet and ionizing radiation, infections caused by certain viruses, bacteria, or parasites, environmental factors such as air pollution, high body mass index, lack of physical activity, and low fruit and vegetable intake.
Reducing the Burden of Cancer Through Prevention
WHO declares that about 30 to 50% of cancers are preventable through different ways. It is possible by avoiding the risk factors and properly implementing the existing evidence-based scientifically-tested prevention strategies. Thus, early detection, continuous treatment, and appropriate care of patients can help in reducing the cancer burden. Therefore, many types of cancers have a high chance of being cured if diagnosed early and treatment started immediately. Thus, prevention is an actual key in the fight against cancer.
Cancer Prevention Measures
Following preventive measures are helpful in reducing cancer’s risk as approved by WHO.
- Not using tobacco and avoiding or reducing consumption of alcohol (or quitting as soon as possible).
- Maintaining healthy body weight and remaining in contact with medical professionals in case of sudden weight loss.
- Medical professionals also prescribe regular cancer screening sessions despite noticing no severe cancer symptoms.
- Make sure to eat a healthy diet that includes fruit and vegetables and the prescribed amount of other food nutrients.
- Including different types of healthy physical activities in the daily routine.
- To boost immunity against cancer, getting regular vaccinations against other fatal diseases is necessary. These diseases include HPV and hepatitis B and C, etc. The vaccination becomes mandatory, if the patient belongs to a group for which vaccination is already recommended.
- Avoiding unnecessary ultraviolet radiation exposure which primarily results from continuous exposure to the sun and other such artificial tanning devices and uses sun protection measures on daily basis.
- Ensuring safe, appropriate, and only required the use of radiation in health care and also under a medical professional’s supervision (for diagnostic and other therapeutic purposes only).
- Also avoiding and minimizing occupational exposure to different ionizing radiation.
- Reducing exposure to outdoor and indoor air pollution, including and most importantly radon (a radioactive gas produced from the natural decay of uranium, which can accumulate in buildings).
- Taking other such preventive measures as prescribed by the health professionals after a regional healthcare emergency
Cancer and UICC Slogan
WHO has declared that cancer patients may develop COVID-19 symptoms faster than normal people. They may sometimes require ICU admission if they do not get proper medical treatment and care. Therefore, UICC has declared “Close the Care Gap” as the global uniting initiative for World Cancer Day 2023 Theme.
The UICC’s slogan states, “Let’s unite to make the world aware to close the gap in cancer care”. Many awe-inspiring medical strategies and advancements are already in progress for cancer prevention and treatment. Yet, according to UICC, many patients can still hit some barriers during cancer treatment. These barriers include financial, educational, geographical, and discrimination while receiving the cancer care they need and deserve.
According to UICC, it will help in providing the momentum to fuel our fight against this non-communicable yet deadliest disease. We will build stronger alliances and innovative new collaborations and mobilize our communities against cancer. Therefore, UICC has marked this day as a reminder for all of us to remember that we all have a mandatory role to play in reducing the global impacts of cancer.
Conclusion
Despite the importance of prevention, cancer is a disease that can still affect anyone, regardless of lifestyle choices. That’s why, it is important to show support for those who are battling cancer. We also need to raise awareness of the impacts of the disease can have on individuals and their families. on Cancer Day, events can also be held to raise funds for the patients in need and cancer research.
In addition to raising awareness, World Cancer Day also provides an opportunity to advocate for better cancer policies. Governments and health organizations can take actions to improve cancer care and increase access to treatments. Thus, helping in providing better support for cancer patients and their families. For example, many countries have implemented tobacco control policies to reduce the number of lung cancer cases. Some countries have also implemented programs to provide free cancer screenings to help underserved populations.
World Cancer Day helps the public to know more about preventive measures against cancer. This day helps us in learning about cancer’s types, symptoms, detection, and different treatment options. It also helps to understand the cancer patients’ needs, challenges, and barriers. Thus, it makes us more sympathetic toward the patients during such hard times. We can also assist their families emotionally, financially, and in any possible way.
