World Cancer Day 2012

Did you know that each year, over 12.7 million people receive a cancer diagnosis and 7.6 million people die from the disease?

If no action is taken, the worldwide cancer burden is expected to reach 26 million new diagnoses and 17 million deaths by the year 2030, with the most rapid increases occurring in low- and middle-income countries.

However, it’s not all bad news as 30-40% of cancers can be prevented, and one-third of cancers can be cured through early diagnosis and treatment. Our aim is to help you understand how you can take steps to prevent cancer and live a healthier and longer life.

The World Cancer Declaration is a tool to help bring the growing cancer crisis to the attention of government leaders and health policymakers in order to significantly reduce the global cancer burden by 2020.

Through the targets outline in the World Cancer Declaration our aim by 2020 is to have:

• effective cancer control programmes
• reduced risk factors such as tobacco use, alcohol consumption and obestity universal vaccination programmes
• a better informed publicimproved diagnosis methods
• universally available pain controlimproved training for medical staff
• better survival rates for cancer patients

To reach these targets we will take action to:

• place cancer on the political agenda
• improve cancer prevention and early detection
• enhance access to and treatment for cancer patients

Together we are stronger sign now for a cancer free world!