World Cancer Day aims to save lives by raising awareness and educating the population about cancer. The day also serves to pressure governments and individuals to take action in preventing, treating, and controlling cancer. Cancer is a heterogeneous group of diseases that result from abnormal cell growth and have the potential to spread to other parts of the body.
On February 4, 2000, World Cancer Day was officially established by the Paris Charter at the World Summit Against Cancer for the New Millennium in Paris. The Paris Charter aimed to promote research for a cure and other preventative measures. It also sought services for patients and support from the global community.
In 2023, the global cancer community commemorates World Cancer Day, on February 4, with the slogan "Close the care gap", and the call to unite our voices and take action.
PAHO joins this campaign to call everyone, collectively and individually, to commit to strengthen actions aimed to improve access to quality care, including screening, early detection, treatment and palliative care.
Cancer in the Americas Cancer is the second most frequent cause of morbidity and mortality in the Americas, after cardiovascular disease, and an important basis of health inequalities. In the Americas there are an estimated 4 million people were newly diagnosed and 1.4 million people died from the disease in 2020. Approximately, 57% of new cancer cases and 47% of cancer deaths occurred in people 69 years of age and younger, in the prime of their lives.
Future trends
Globally, there were an estimated 20 million new cases of cancer and 10 million deaths from cancer. The cancer burden will increase by approximately 60% over the next two decades, further straining health systems, people and communities. The predicted global burden will increase to about 30 million new cancer cases by 2040, with the greatest increases occuring in low- and middle-income countries.
In the Americas region the, number of people expected to be diagnosed with cancer will increase by 57%, to approximately 6.23 million people are predicted to be diagnosed with cancer by 2040, if no further action is taken to prevent and control cancer.
Cancer can be prevented and controlled
Cancer can be prevented and controlled by implementing evidence-based strategies for cancer prevention, screening and early detection, treatment and palliative care. The most common modifiable risk factors for cancer, which are shared with many other noncommunicable diseases, are:
Tobacco use
Low fruit and vegetable intake
Harmful use of alcohol
Lack of physical activity
Some specific risk factors for cancer include chronic infections from human papilloma virus (HPV) -for cervical cancer-, hepatitis B and C - for liver cancer-, and H.pylori -for stomach cancer. One third to one half of cancer cases could be prevented by reducing the prevalence of known risk factors. Examples of actionable interventions are tobacco control and HPV vaccination. The most effective primary prevention of cancer is based on whole-of-government approaches, with legislation, regulation and fiscal policies combined with activities to change community and individual behaviour. Public health messages and health promotion should present evidence on specific risk factors.
https://www.paho.org/en/campaigns/world-cancer-day-2023-close-care-gap
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