World Cancer Day
World Cancer Day, 4 February 2007 marked the launch of World Cancer Campaign ‘Today’s Children, Tomorrow’s World’.
Forty three percent of cancer cases can be prevented through healthy lifestyles established in childhood. The World Cancer Campaign underscores prevention by sharing knowledge about lifestyle behaviours.
The International Union Against Cancer (UICC) – a Geneva-based non government organisation – and member organisations in 86 countries launched the campaign on World Cancer Day. Targeting parents, health-care professionals and policymakers, the campaign presents a common theme: fostering healthy habits during childhood can help prevent cancer later in life.
The World Cancer Campaign’s four key messages are:
– Provide a smoke-free environment for children
– Be physically active, eat a healthy diet, and avoid obesity
– Learn about vaccines for virus-related liver and cervical cancers
– Avoid over-exposure to the sun
More than seven million people die from cancer and close to 11 million new cases are diagnosed every year. In 2006, cancer killed more people than AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis combined.
