Experts warn more prevention is needed on World Cancer Day
Posted Feb 4, 2014 7:54 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Tuesday may be World Cancer Day, but experts are warning we can’t rely on scientific break-throughs and advancements alone.
They say prevention is needed in what appears to be a losing battle against the disease.
The World Health Organization reports 14 million people will hear the words “you have cancer” this year. In two decades, that number will grow to 22 million.
Over that same period, the number of cancer deaths will rise from 8.2 million to 13 million per year.
Breaking it down by cancer, lung is the most common with 1.8 million cases, there were 1.7 million breast cancer cases and large bowel had 1.4 million while the most common causes of cancer death were lung, liver and stomach.
Experts say a lot of the deaths are preventable and the situation is being made worse by a lack of early detection and access to treatment.
The Canadian Cancer Society’s Health Promotion Program and Sun Safety Program believe there are several things people can do to reduce their risk of the disease.
They’re urging people to live well, keep sun safety in mind, quit smoking, be aware, get checked and know your family history.
About five to 10 per cent of cancers are related to genetics while smoking is responsible for more than 85 per cent of lung cases in this country.
“It’s important that people are aware of their own circumstances and it’s really important, especially when you get to a certain age, that you see a doctor on a regular basis,” Spokesperson Al Pelley told 660News.
Pelley said they’ve been keeping an eye on the rise in rates, and they’re hoping to get the survival rate at the same time from 63 per cent in Canada up to 80.
“And we believe through increased research, through education and awareness and prevention programs, this can be achieved,” he explained.
The Society believes public policy also plays a large role and that governments have a responsibility to enact legislation to keep people from harm.
In 2010 the total annual economic cost of cancer was estimated to reach approximately US$1.16 trillion.
“We believe that you can stop cancer before it starts,” Pelley said. “And we believe that in working collectively together with other agencies involved in the cancer fight, working with our government partners in getting the message out there, that we can change cancer.”
They add early detection, diagnosis and treatment are key.
