UHN, along with many other organizations across the world, take part in this day by giving our collective support to the World Cancer Day campaign which follows a new theme each year.
This year's theme is "Cancer can be prevented too." Each year, over 12 million people receive a cancer diagnosis and 7.6 million die of the disease. The good news is that approximately 40% of cancers are potentially preventable.
This new theme focuses on how the risk of developing cancer can be significantly reduced through simple measures such as:
- Stop tobacco use and avoid exposure to second-hand smoke
- Limit alcohol consumption
- Avoid excessive sun exposure
- Maintain a healthy weight, through eating healthily and exercising regularly
- Protect against cancer-causing infections
The awareness campaign was announced last week by the Geneva-based International Union Against Cancer (UICC), a non-governmental organization with 289 member organizations from 94 countries dedicated exclusively to the control of cancer. We have had a long association with the UICC, which is truly international in scope and reach, and resolutely focused on the significant global issues of cancer care, control, prevention and screening. Dr. Mary Gospodarowicz is the UHN representative for the UICC. For more information, go to www.uicc.org
To learn more about "Cancer can be prevented too", go to www.worldcancercampaign.org
You're encouraged to add your own voice of support by signing the World Cancer Declaration which is a call to action to substantially reduce the global cancer burden by 2020.
Show your support at:
http://www.uicc.org
More materials on World Cancer day can be found in the PMH Patient Education Library.
