 |
Cancer
The theme of this year's World Cancer Day is 'Cancer can be prevented too'. One of the three components of the Global Strategy for the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs), and its Action Plan is prevention. This includes reducing exposure to the four common risk factors for the four main groups of NCDs - cancer along with heart disease and stroke, diabetes, and chronic respiratory disease.
These four main risk factors shared by these diseases are tobacco use, unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, and harmful use of alcohol. The Plan also prioritises the need for strengthening health care services for cancer and other NCDs.
Achievements in prevention and control of cancer and other NCDs, will have a major positive impact, not only on international health but also on global development.
"Partnership will be essential for the success of the NCD Action Plan," commented Dr Ala Alwan, Assistant Director-General for Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health at WHO. "The Plan specifically calls upon international partners, countries and WHO to promote partnerships for the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases. The Global Noncommunicable Disease Network - NCDnet - was created to directly support this objective. Partners are working together to advocate collectively, increase resource availability and facilitate country-level action."
QUICK CANCER FACTS
- Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide: it accounted for 7.9 million deaths (around 13% of all deaths) in 2007.
- Lung, stomach, liver, colon and breast cancer cause the most cancer deaths each year.
- The most frequent types of cancer differ between men and women.
- About 30% of cancer deaths can be prevented.
- Tobacco use is the single most important risk factor for cancer.
- Cancer arises from a change in one single cell. The change may be started by external agents and inherited genetic factors.
- About 72% of all cancer deaths in 2007 occurred in low- and middle-income countries.
- Deaths from cancer worldwide are projected to continue rising, with an estimated 12 million deaths in 2030.
::
Learn more about cancer
THE FACES OF CANCER
Are the number of cancer cases increasing or decreasing in the world?
|
|
