International Cancer Day: Facts and Myths About Cancer

World Health Organization (WHO) along with The Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) held every year on February 4 Cancer Day International (World Cancer Day). This warning serves as a media campaign against cancer, reduce the global burden of cancer as well as providing health education to the public about the prevention of cancer and to improve the quality of life in individuals who have cancer.

Cancer is the leading cause of death occurring around the world, an estimated 7.6 million dying every year due to cancer worldwide in 2008, or a 13% of all deaths in the world (WHO, 2008). The top 10 worldwide incidence of cancer in men and women according to GLOBOCAN, 2008 are as follows:
Breast cancer (38 per 100,000 people)
Prostate cancer (28 per 100,000 people)
Lung cancer (22 per 100,000 people)
Colorectal cancer (18 per 100,000 people)
Cervical cancer (15 per 100,000 people)
Stomach cancer (13 per 100,000 people)
Liver cancer (11 per 100,000 people)
The corpus uteri cancer (8 per 100,000 people)
Esophageal cancer (6 per 100,000 people)
Ovarian Cancer (5 per 100,000 people)
While most cancer causing death among 10 cancer incidence experienced by men and women are:
Lung cancer (1.37 million deaths)
Stomach cancer (736,000 deaths)
Liver cancer (695 000 deaths)
Colorectal cancer (608 000 deaths)
Breast cancer (458 000 deaths)
Cervical cancer (275 000 deaths)
As for 30% of deaths in individuals with cancer, caused by a five-risk behavior and diet following: obesity, lack of eating fruits and vegetables, lack of exercise, smoking and drinking alcoholic beverages. Smoking is a risk factor for cancers of the most high, ie 22% of the causes of cancer throughout the world and among people with lung cancer caused by smoking is 71% of them died.
Besides cancer can also cause a contagious infection, such as Hepatitis B or Hepatitis C, and Human Papillomavirus (HPV) in the female genital. Infections are the cause of 20% of deaths worldwide in the communities in poor and developing countries. An estimated 70% of deaths caused by cancer in the year 2008 occurred in poor and developing countries. And these cancer deaths will increase in the years to come, is expected in 2030 will be 13.1 million deaths from the disease.
Although the facts are so clear about the cancer had spread to all corners of the world, there are myths believed by the public who still assume that cancer is not a serious illness and do not need to watch. The following are myths:
Cancer merely Health Issues (Cancer is just health issue), when in fact the cancer is not just a health issue, but it has an impact on economic issues, social development and human rights state.
Cancer is a disease that is only experienced by the rich, the elderly and people in developing countries (Cancer is a disease of the wealthy, Elderly, and developed countries), whereas in fact the cancer has turned into a global epidemic, affecting all walks of life either by age and socioeconomic. And, it should be recognized that people in developing countries received the most negative effects of the cancer epidemic.
Cancer is a death sentence (Cancer is a death sentence), when in fact many people with cancer, which has been treated to more and more people with cancer who have received effective treatment. Even Hollywood has produced many films with cancer been able to survive, such as the film 50/50, starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt. Please klin the link to get the details.
Cancer is my fate (Cancer is my fate), when in fact this time approximately 30% of cancer cases have been prevented with the use of advanced science and medical technology today.
Well, in order to reduce the spread of this cancer epidemic worldwide, in addition to the promotion of health through Cancer Day International (World Cancer Day) which is celebrated every year on February 4 each year, WHO has also launched a program called, Noncommunicable Disease Action Plan which contained therein intervention to overcome cancer. The program is followed by the IARC, which is part of the WHO to carry out the following activities:
Increasing political commitment to the prevention and control of cancer (Increase political commitment for cancer prevention and control);
Coordinate and conduct research on the causes of cancer in humans and the mechanisms of carcinogenic substances can cause cancer (Coordinate and conduct research on the causes of human cancer and the mechanisms of carcinogenesis);
Develop science-based strategies for the prevention and control of cancer (Develop scientific strategies for cancer prevention and control);
Generate new knowledge and disseminate existing knowledge to facilitate discoveries gained through the research approach to control cancer (Generate new knowledge, and disseminate existing knowledge to facilitate the delivery of evidence-based approaches to cancer control);
Develop standards and tools to assist in the planning and implementation of interventions for prevention, early detection and treatment of cancer (Develop standards and tools to guide the planning and implementation of Interventions for prevention, early detection, treatment and care);
Facilitate wide network for partners and experts to control cancer, both globally, regionally and state (Facilitate broad networks of cancer control partners and experts at the global, regional and national levels);
Strengthening health systems at the local and state level to help the treatment and care for cancer patients (Strengthen health systems at national and local levels to deliver the cure and care for Cancer Patients), and
Provide technical assistance quickly, effectively transferring the best interventions for developing countries (Provide technical assistance for rapid, effective transfer of best practice Interventions to developing countries).
Similarly, a glimpse of information about cancer. May we always be kept away from the family and are quite deadly disease and hopefully in the future we increasingly have concern for efforts to control the disease is to avoid a negative impact on human life. Happy day international cancer!