World Cancer Day
World Cancer Day: Awareness and Action
Cancer is defined as an abnormal growth of cells which tend to reproduce and sometimes spread to other parts of the body through the lymphatic system. It is said that approximately 11 million people all over the world are diagnosed with this disease and about 7 million might die of this disease. Indeed, cancer is a worldwide concern because of its impact on the quality of life of its victims and their families. Many cancers are preventable and curable. Evidence-based knowledge and awareness of the root cause of cancer is the best way to prevent the approximated 11 million cancer cases all over the world. Early detection combined with chemotherapy and other forms of treatment may cure at least 2/3 of cancer cases. It is a fact that inaction and lack of awareness are major causes of the mortality of cancer cases. Cancer claims at least twice as many lives as AIDS and kills more than the number of AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis victims put together.
There is nothing more painful than knowing that you have cancer or that a loved one of yours is suffering from the disease. However, knowing that there are other people in the world who share your pain and other people who are going through the same terrible and traumatic experience would make you feel less alone and it would also give you the opportunity to gather courage from the people who have been there and were actually able to survive.
The UICC World Cancer Campaign:
The UICC, or the Union Internationale Contre le Cancer or International Union Against Cancer is an organization founded in 1933 which raises awareness, research and understanding of Cancer. It aims to gather funds for cancer prevention and cure. Recently, it has launched February 4 as an annual commemoration of the World Cancer Day to raise awareness on the effects of cancer on human life and suffering, increase awareness that solutions to cancer exist, make an action against cancer and create a development that promote community action and responsibility.
Under the Theme My Child Matters, UICC launched its World Cancer Campaign in 2005. This campaign aims to focus on the impact childhood cancer has on poor defenseless children and their families. They saw a critical need for an increase of awareness through information, education and communication about the prevention, early detection, diagnosis and treatment of cancer. Awareness is only a start, socio-behavioral changes should follow to help fight against cancer. The UICC World Cancer Campaign is a reaction to the Charter of Paris on 2000 for the World Summit Against Cancer in the New Millennium.
The World Cancer Campaign helps people hold onto the hope that someday cancer may be totally eliminated as a major health problem. It reminds people that the experts are willing to extend a helping hand to them. Information and funding for the prevention and treatment of this dreaded disease has been made available to the public through this campaign. It opens up the door to different opportunities of finding love and acceptance.