4 February 2014 – World Cancer Day is observed every year by the World Health Organization, the International Agency for Research on Cancer and the Union for International Cancer Control on 4 February. The tagline of this year's Day is "Debunk the myths", which builds on the success of last year's campaign, by again focusing on Target 5 of the World Cancer Declaration: Dispel damaging myths and misconceptions about cancer.
Cancer is already ranked among the top four leading causes of death in the Eastern Mediterranean Region. The incidence is expected to almost double in the next two decades, from an estimated 456 000 new cases in 2010 to nearly 861 000 in 2030, the highest relative increase among all WHO regions.
The above estimates are based only on the effect of population growth and ageing, but the additional effect of increasing exposures to cancer risk factors, such as smoking, unhealthy diet and physical inactivity, and environmental pollution, will lead to an even bigger rise in the burden of cancer. The prevalence of these risk factors is likely to increase due to socioeconomic and cultural changes, placing significant strains on health programmes and causing substantial human suffering.
The epidemic of lung cancer in men in many countries in the Region is a potent warning of the urgent need for action. The UN Political Declaration on the Prevention and Control of Non-communicable Diseases (NCDs), the regional framework for action to implement the UN Political Declaration and WHO’s Global Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of NCDs 2013–2020 with its associated monitoring framework, create opportunities for accelerating action on cancer prevention and control.
Related links
Wold Cancer Day 2014 campaign material
World Cancer Declaration
Union for International Cancer Control
UN Political Declaration on the Prevention and Control of Non-communicable Diseases (NCDs)
Regional framework for action
WHO’s Global Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of NCDs 2013–2020
4 February 2014 – World Cancer Day is observed every year by the World Health Organization, the International Agency for Research on Cancer and the Union for International Cancer Control on 4 February. The tagline of this year's Day is "Debunk the myths", which builds on the success of last year's campaign, by again focusing on Target 5 of the World Cancer Declaration: Dispel damaging myths and misconceptions about cancer.
Cancer is already ranked among the top four leading causes of death in the Eastern Mediterranean Region. The incidence is expected to almost double in the next two decades, from an estimated 456 000 new cases in 2010 to nearly 861 000 in 2030, the highest relative increase among all WHO regions.
The above estimates are based only on the effect of population growth and ageing, but the additional effect of increasing exposures to cancer risk factors, such as smoking, unhealthy diet and physical inactivity, and environmental pollution, will lead to an even bigger rise in the burden of cancer. The prevalence of these risk factors is likely to increase due to socioeconomic and cultural changes, placing significant strains on health programmes and causing substantial human suffering.
The epidemic of lung cancer in men in many countries in the Region is a potent warning of the urgent need for action. The UN Political Declaration on the Prevention and Control of Non-communicable Diseases (NCDs), the regional framework for action to implement the UN Political Declaration and WHO’s Global Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of NCDs 2013–2020 with its associated monitoring framework, create opportunities for accelerating action on cancer prevention and control.
Related links
Wold Cancer Day 2014 campaign material
World Cancer Declaration
Union for International Cancer Control
UN Political Declaration on the Prevention and Control of Non-communicable Diseases (NCDs)
Regional framework for action
WHO’s Global Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of NCDs 2013–2020
