UN Chronicle | WHO Calls for Collaboration in the Fight Against Cancer

WHO Calls for Collaboration in the Fight Against Cancer
By Consuelo Remmert for the Chronicle

Web Article

The World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Union Against Cancer (IUCC) declared that all sectors of society must work together to win the battle against cancer. The number of lives affected by cancer increases yearly despite the acquisition of new knowledge regarding prevention, early detection and treatment of the deadly disease. "Cancer is potentially the most preventable and most curable of the major life-threatening diseases for humankind", said IUCC President Dr. John R. Seffrin.

"By applying existing knowledge and promoting evidence-based actions in cancer control, we will turn this truth into reality."

WHO and IUCC have co-authored "Global Action Against Cancer", a booklet exposing critical data collected in 12 regions worldwide. The organizations predict a 50-per-cent increase in the number of cancer deaths by 2020 if current trends are not reversed. The booklet focuses on three principal causes: tobacco, diet and chronic infection.

According to WHO and IUCC, society as a whole must collaborate in the fight against tobacco use. Smoking causes many cancer deaths despite being more preventable than infection and improper diet. The agencies estimate that 500 million productive, middle-aged individuals will die early because of tobacco consumption while second-hand smoke increases the risk of lung-cancer in non-smokers. Tobacco use also harms the economy, because the accumulative cost of cancer treatment exceeds tax revenues from cigarettes.

Although people in developed countries are increasingly giving up tobacco, they are eating more and exercising less. WHO and IUCC claim that healthy diet and active lifestyles could prevent up to a third of all cancer deaths. Vaccination programmes to avoid chronic infections that trigger cancer are essential to decrease the incidence of the disease. Vaccines can prevent between 90 and 95 per cent of Hepatitis B infections, a major cause of cancer.

Programmes for early detection and treatment of cancer are indispensable to increase the probability of survival. WHO and IUCC also affirmed the need to address the personal requirements of survivors, patients, their families and caregivers.

The "Global Action" booklet (available online free of charge) emphasizes that cooperation between the public and private sectors is required for the efficient implementation of cancer prevention, detection and treatment programmes. Without cooperation, cancer will continue to claim a growing number of lives.

Links

Concerted global action is the only answer to rising cancer deaths
WHO Press Release