Cancer is one of the leading causes of death across the world all around with coming second only to heart and cardiovascular diseases. WHO study of 2022 shows that the mortality data of cancer accounts for nearly ten million deaths per year worldwide with one out of every sixth death being due to cancer. According to the Global Cancer Index of both sexes, breast and lung cancers were found to be the most common cancers worldwide with colorectal cancer being the third in line. The prevalence of cancer differs worldwide with breast, lung, colorectal, and, prostate cancers being the top cancers affecting the health of people in developed countries. While the top cancers affecting developing countries are found to be stomach, lung, liver, breast, and cervix cancers.
WHO study of 2022 shows that the mortality data of cancer accounts for nearly ten million deaths per year worldwide with one out of every sixth death being due to cancer.
Cancer is a global health crisis and every year on 4th February, World Cancer Day is marked to spread awareness about cancer worldwide and promote the prevention of the disease.
Foundation of World Cancer Day -
World Cancer Day was founded and marked on February 4th, 2000 at the World Summit Against Cancer for the New Millennium in Paris. World Cancer Day is a global initiative undertaken and led by the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) which is a non-profit organization established in the year 1993 in Geneva. The aim of the UICC has been to support the World Cancer Declaration which was written in 2008 and work towards the eradication of the disease from around the world.
The Goal of World Cancer Day -
The primary goal of World Cancer Day is to significantly reduce the disease index and mortality rate of cancer. The main purpose is to spread awareness among people about cancer and promote prevention, early detection, and treatment. World Cancer Day aims to create and provide a global platform for people from all around the world to take part in conversations and address various concerns about cancer, reduce the social stigma surrounding the disease, and inculcate compassion and empathy within people for those who are fighting this life-altering disease.
The theme of World Cancer Day -
"Close the care gap" is the theme of World Cancer Day 2022-2024. It is a three-year campaign with specific objectives allotted to work on for each year.
The objective of World Cancer Day 2023 Theme: Uniting our voices and taking action. It aims at spurring people into action by coming together to collectively build powerful unions and alliances and help fight this battle against cancer.
Cancer is one of the predominant non-communicable diseases in the world. It has been increasing progressively over the last fifty years. As a public health practitioner, I believe that the prevalence of cancer can be reduced by adopting health education discussing healthy lifestyles and dietary habits, and compulsory screening in urban and rural communities regardless of an individual's education and socioeconomic status.Dr Christa Maria Joel, MBBS, MPH, Support Practitioner for Disabled Adults and Children, Sense Scotland, UK
NGOs and Programs Initiatives in India - To help fight against cancer
On World Cancer Day 2023, we are going to take a look at some cancer care NGOs and Program Initiatives taken up by the govt of India that are helping cancer patients and also spreading awareness about the disease and its prevention.
1) Indian Cancer Society- Indian Cancer Society was established in 1951 as India's first non-profit, national organization for raising awareness, early diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship for thousands of underprivileged cancer patients.
2) Cuddles Foundation- It is a child-oriented non-profit organization working towards helping the underprivileged children of society with a holistic nutrition program..
3) Cancer Patients Aid Association- Cancer Patients Aid Association (CPAA) is a non-profit organization that was established in 1969 and focuses on aiding poor cancer patients with patient care, assistance, awareness, early detection, and rehabilitation.
4) Sanjeevani Life Beyond Care- Sanjeevani is a non-profit organization that aims to provide comprehensive cancer care to patients from economically weaker sections of society and provides them with treatment free of cost. It runs various programs for cancer patients like CanSahyogi which is a counseling & Handholding Initiative and CanAhaar which is a Nutritional Support Initiative taken up by the organization.
5) Women's Cancer Initiative- TATA Memorial Hospital
Started by Devika Bhojwani in 2003, in partnership with Tata Memorial Hospital, the Women’s Cancer Initiative aims at providing material support to socially and economically disadvantaged women who are diagnosed to have breast and gynecological cancers like cervical and ovarian cancer.
6) The National Cancer Grid (NCG)- is an initiative of the Government of India through the Department of Atomic Energy and the Tata Memorial Centre to create a network of cancer centers, research institutes, patient groups, and charitable institutions across India to help fight the battle against cancer.
7) Health Minister's Cancer Patient Fund- Health Minister’s Cancer Patient Fund (HMCPF) has been set up for providing financial assistance to poor patients suffering from cancer. A grant fund of Rs.100 crore has been set up to provide financial assistance to patients suffering from cancer and living below the poverty line.
8) Ayushman Bharat National Health Protection Mission- This National Health Protection Scheme provides cover up to 5 lakh rupees per family per year for poor and vulnerable sections of society.
"Surviving a day with Cancer is an achievement, so hold on and make your way out of it like a fighter."Anonymous