World Cancer Day… IMA joins global efforts to reduce cancer burden
Dear Colleagues
This year, World Cancer Day is being observed on February 4. The theme is ‘We can. I can’.
The three year campaign, 2016-2018 will explore how everyone – together or individually – can do their part to reduce the global burden of cancer and bring about a change. All people have the power to take various actions to reduce the impact that cancer has on individuals, families and communities
The Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) began the World Cancer Day 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. It is observed in almost the whole world as an annual event.
There were 14.1 million new cancer cases, 8.2 million cancer deaths and 32.6 million people living with cancer (within 5 years of diagnosis) in 2012 as per Globocon report. And, 19.3 million new cancer cases are expected to be diagnosed each year by the year 2025. In India, one million new cases occurred in 2012 with 6.8 lakh deaths. We have 17.9 million people living with cancer (within 5 years of diagnosis). The most common cancers worldwide were lung cancer, followed by breast, colorectal, prostate, stomach, liver and cervical cancers. Breast cancer was the commonest cancer in women, while in males, lung cancer was the most common cancer.
Cancer is a complex group of diseases that number more than 100. Cancer is a major public health problem that affects people in every nook and corner of every country of the world regardless of caste, creed or socioeconomic status. It’s not only the patient, the family too suffers. The economic cost of lost life years due to cancer exceed that of any other disease.
Smoking continues to be the biggest cancer risk factor. Tobacco use accounts for 5.4 million deaths every year, or 22% of all cancer deaths. Reducing the rates of tobacco use will significantly decrease the global burden of 13 different types of cancers, including lung, oral cavity etc. Alcohol use has also been linked to cancers of the mouth, pharynx, larynx, oesophagus, bowel, liver and breast.
About 40% of cancers can be prevented, and one-third of cancers can be cured through early diagnosis and treatment.
We request all IMA Leaders/branches to observe World Cancer Day by arranging exhibitions, distribute pamphlets, giving Lectures, take out rallies, hold Press conference, and organize Cancer Detection Camps etc.
Dr SS Aggarwal Dr KK Aggarwal Dr Dilip K Acharya
National President, IMA Hony Secy Gen IMA Chairman IMA National Cancer & Tobacco Control Committee
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