In recognition of World Cancer Day on February 4, we are supporting the World Cancer Day 2016: ‘We Can. I
Can.’ campaign. The global campaign highlights how everyone, as a
collective or as individuals, can do their part to reduce the global
burden of cancer.
Next year alone, nearly 9 million people are likely to die of cancer,
and left unchecked, the number of deaths will increase to 13 million
per year by 2030. World Cancer Day is a chance to reflect on what you
can do: make a pledge and take action. Whatever you choose to do ‘We
Can. I Can.’ will make a difference to the fight against cancer. The
initiative outlines nine targets to be achieved by 2025 with the
overarching goal to reduce cancer deaths by 25% by 2025. The targets
include strengthening health systems, measuring cancer burden and impact
of cancer plans in all countries, reducing exposure to cancer risk
factors, universal coverage of HPV and HBV vaccination, reduction of
stigma and dispelling myths about cancer, universal access to screening
and early detection for cancer, improvement in access to services across
the cancer care spectrum, universal availability of pain control and
distress management, and improvement in education and training of
healthcare professionals.
According to the World Health Organization, lung cancer is the most
common cancer worldwide, accounting for 1.8 million new cases in 2012,
and is responsible for nearly one in five deaths. While most understand
that smoking is the single greatest risk factor for lung cancer, regular
exposure to secondhand smoke also increases the risk. In addition,
environmental exposure to radon, asbestos, arsenic, beryllium, and
uranium have all been linked to lung cancer. The risk of lung cancer
also increases with a history of cancer in another part of the body,
age, family history, radiation to the chest area, and lung diseases like
COPD and tuberculosis.
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