Today, February 4, is World Cancer Day.
This year's World Cancer Day theme is to dispel common myths and misconceptions about cancer. This day brings attention to the fact that cancer is increasing in frequency despite being an often preventable or curable disease with proper screening, early diagnosis and treatment. In the past year, over eight million people died of cancer worldwide, and if we don't inspire change, the number of deaths is predicted to rise to over 17 million by 2030.
To mark World Cancer Day at UHN, Princess Margaret experts are busting cancer myths. We took to the streets of Toronto to ask people to debunk common cancer myths – then our experts weighed in. Cancer Mythbusters is a five-part video series featuring some truths about cancer from our oncologists.
Today, we present the Cancer Mythbusters video series finale –
how often should women get a PAP test? Watch the video below to find out what Torontonians – and our expert – had to say. To view all five videos,
click here.
We encourage you to add your own voice of support by signing the World Cancer Declaration – a call to action to substantially reduce the global cancer burden by 2020.
To sign the
World Cancer Day
declaration, click
here.
Thank you for joining us in this important call to action as we all work together to conquer cancer in our lifetime.
World Cancer Day is organized by the Geneva-based
Union for International Cancer Control (UICC), a non-governmental organization with 364 member organizations from 100 countries dedicated exclusively to the control of cancer. The UICC, whose current president is Mary Gospodarowicz, is international in scope and reach, and focused on the significant global issues of cancer care, control, prevention and screening. To learn more about World Cancer Day, click
here.
Bob Bell & Mary Gospodarowicz
