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World Cancer Day 2015: Not Beyond Us

on the Wednesday, February 4, 2015

Today is World Cancer Day – a day that unites the world’s population in the fight against cancer.

On February 4th every year, millions of people from all over the world are involved in World Cancer Day. Individually and collectively, World Cancer Day is used to profile the alarming number of myths and misconceptions which surround the disease and which collectively limit our ability to prevent and treat the disease successfully.

The facts are startling to many: 1 in 3 people will develop cancer in their lifetime. All of us will be affected in some way – as individuals, family, friends and colleagues.

Cary Adams, CEO for the Union for International Cancer Control says, “Together we have to opportunity to positively impact the world’s perception of cancer. We can reduce the number of new cases. We can treat more cancers successfully and for those that we cannot, we can ease the last days for cancer patients through appropriate palliative care and pain relief. This is not beyond us.”

Through the theme Cancer – Not Beyond Us, World Cancer Day 2015 emphasises the need for taking action and implementing what we already know in order to push the global fight against cancer to a whole new level.

“Cancer remains a national health priority in Australia, with significant implications for individuals, families, communities and health systems,” says Cancer Australia CEO, Professor Helen Zorbas.

“World Cancer Day is a very important date for the international community, providing the opportunity to share knowledge across the global cancer landscape. It also allows us to consider our own efforts in improving cancer control to reduce the impact of the disease, which is now Australia’s major cause of illness,” she says.

This year’s World Cancer Day focuses on four key areas of importance:   

Choosing Healthy Lives

Reducing the social and environmental risk factors for cancer and empowering people to make healthy choices, are key components to achieving the global overarching goal of reducing premature deaths form NCDs by 25% by 2025 and reaching the aspirational targets of the World Cancer Declaration.

Delivering Early Detection

Ensuring the availability of, and access to, early detection programs for cancer can significantly reduce the cancer burden in all countries.

Achieving Treatment For All

All people have the right to access quality, effective cancer treatment and services on equal terms, regardless of geography and without suffering economic hardship as a consequence.

Maximising Quality Of Life

Understanding and responding to the full impact of cancer on emotional, mental and physical wellbeing will maximise the quality of life for patients, their families and carers.

Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide, causing 8.2 million deaths per yet. However, we know that more than one third of these deaths are preventable, and if detected early enough, many cancers are curable.

The global cancer epidemic is huge and set to rise. It is predicted to increase to 19.3 million cases per year in 2025, compared to 14.1 million in 2012. 

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