World Cancer Day: February 4, 2010

(February 04, 2010) The world cancer Day is annually celebrated on the 4^th of February. Initiated in 2006, each year on this day World Health Organisation, WHO supports International Union Against Cancer to promote ways to ease the global burden of cancer. In a message for the World Cancer Day on February 4, WHO regional director Shin Young-soo stressed the need to increase people’s awareness of cancer and how to prevent, detect and treat the disease. “There is a universal fear of cancer,” he said. “But, with the right frame of mind, and by taking appropriate action, some cancers can be averted or cured.” The WHO said more than 30 per cent of all cancers can be prevented through simple measures such as avoiding smoking, eating a healthy diet and taking exercise, limiting alcohol consumption and protection against cancer-causing infections. “Some cancers can be detected early, treated and cured,” the message added. The World Cancer Day, 2010 theme is to "learn about vaccines against viruses that cause cancers." The theme also says that Cancer can be prevented too through simple preventive measures such as: no tobacco use, a healthy diet and regular exercise, limited alcohol use, protection against cancer-causing infections. According to the WHO, which is the United Nations' directing and coordinating health authority, an estimated 84 million people will either have died or will die of cancer between 2005 and 2015 without intervention. The WHO warned that annual global cancer deaths would jump to 17 million by 2030 from a projected 7.6 million this year if people do not take urgent action to avoid risk factors. Cancer accounts for one in eight deaths worldwide - more than AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria combined - but many of these deaths can be avoided, the WHO said.