What do we need a World Cancer Day for?
Every year, on February 4th (World Cancer Awareness Day), people worldwide join hands to accomplish one goal. I am convinced that it is World Cancer Day, and in a way, it feels like a global conversation about cancer.
Cancer is the common enemy they have, all over the world coming together to rule no. Cancer is a worldwide issue that touches myriad individuals besides just those diagnosed with it and their families, friends, and communities. On this day in particular, we are learning what cancer is with ourselves, listening to the voices of patients and their families, or working together to find out how it can be prevented by a slash-cured year.
Where did World Cancer Day originate?
It all started at what became known as the very first World Summit Against Cancer in Paris in 2000. Then, heads of state signed a document called the Paris Cancer Charter on February 4th. It was just a group of nations rallying together to battle cancer as being international. On January 4th, they decided it was World Cancer Day to remind each country to keep its promise yearly.
The Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) manages the global organization responsible for this event. Treat the UICC like the boss of the international cancer working group. Club together to minimize what cancer has unleashed. They work with Cancer.org. From hospitals to schools, businesses, and governments, hospitals worldwide are working hand-in-hand to spread the message and take action against cancer.
What are some of the key objectives behind World Cancer Day?
Key objectives that World Cancer Day seeks to address are:
- Speed up the dissemination of information on the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer
- Improve education about cancer signs and symptoms
- Reduce fear and stigma around cancer
- Challenge misconceptions about cancer
- Call for better access to cancer care for everyone
- Encourage governments to take more action against cancer
- Unite the global community to fight cancer
- Share stories of hope and survival
- Promote research and innovation in cancer treatment
How does World Cancer Day help fight cancer?
World Cancer Day works like a spotlight, highlighting important cancer issues that need attention. It helps in many ways:
Here’s how different groups participate in World Cancer Day:
- Healthcare organizations hold free cancer screenings
- Schools organize educational programs
- Community groups plan fundraising events
- Media outlets share cancer awareness messages
- Governments announce new cancer control policies
- Research institutions share the latest findings
- Support groups organize special meetings
- Businesses support cancer awareness campaigns
What happens on World Cancer Day around the world?
On February 4th, countries worldwide celebrate World Cancer Day with different activities.
- Some places use orange and blue lights—the colors of World Cancer Day.
- Schools may hold special classes about cancer prevention. Hospitals may offer free cancer screenings more often.
- Community groups gather and have walks and runs to raise money for cancer research.
- To this end, many educational events are organized. They teach people about ways to prevent cancer, symptoms to watch for, and the importance of regular check-ups.
- Furthermore, there are also ceremonies to recognize cancer survivors. It’s a day of both action and reflection.
How can regular people participate in World Cancer Day?
However, you need not be a doctor or scientist to change the world on World Cancer Day. Campaigns aim to fight misconceptions about cancer; World Cancer Day is all about debunking these myths. For instance, some people think having the disease guarantees death, which is false since timely treatment may even result in complete recovery. Other examples include the idea that cancer is contagious and can be passed down from parents to children – both of which are absolute nonsense.
Furthermore, people can participate in local campaigns and help to elaborate such correct information. The community in your area might engage in charitable running or walking events to foster greater participation in the fight against cancer.
People can work towards World Cancer Day by defaulting to healthy habits like adopting an active lifestyle, regular check-ups, balanced meals, avoiding smoking, etc. Using social media can be a perfect tool to pass down vital and official information regarding cancer, for instance. It demonstrates that, although serious, cancer does not necessarily spell doom. A significant number of cancer survivors live whole, healthy lives.
How does World Cancer Day help in cancer prevention?
World Cancer Day is an attempt to raise awareness that lowering the risk of cancer is within one’s
power. These days, we understand that the lifestyle we lead can prevent many cancers.
- The day helps get this critical message out.
- How can we prevent cancer if we do not smoke, eat healthy food exe, exercise, and protect the skin from a lot of ultraviolet radiation to stay away from different types of cancers?
- World Cancer Day reminds us that everyday decisions play a significant role in managing the cancer risk.
- And on that day, people want to see their regular doctor and get the dismissed screening for cancer. When cancer is detected early, the treatment is usually successful.
Where are we now, having started World Cancer Day?
Cancer is a more significant threat today than when World Cancer Day began 18 years ago. Therapeutics with fewer side effects have been substantially improved. We are better informed on the reasons for and prevention of cancer.
It is better to die and be thrice born. In the present day, more people survive cancer than ever before. A significant component of this is earlier detection, allowing the doctor to diagnose cancer more efficiently. We also have better treatments available. World Cancer Day has succeeded in raising both awareness of cancer symptoms and the desirability of early diagnosis.
What challenges remain in the fight against cancer?
Despite our progress, there are still many challenges. There is an inequity in terms of cancer prevention, screening, and treatment for some. In some countries and communities, the standard of cancer care is more than in others. World Cancer Day aims to draw attention to such discrepancies and prompt action.
Residual difficulty lies in the domain that populations may learn to prevent cancers and recognize early warning signs. The inability to reach that target is due to the limitations of language or cultural variations and the lack of education to distribute relevant information.
The World Cancer Day 2017 campaign theme is ‘Universal Access to Cancer Care.’.
World Cancer Day annually chooses a theme (a minute element of focus on cancer control) to bring the problem into the spotlight for a particular day.
These topics are applied to provide structure and guidance for activity and message organization in cancer control for specific goals or issues.
The theme gives people a reason to come together across the globe to fight cancer together. It provides everyone with a single lens and the ability to make the day’s messages more transparent and robust.
What concrete steps can we take to keep the World Cancer Day spirit alive all year round?
Although World Cancer Day is celebrated on February 4th, the message produced is applicable year-round. We can perpetuate it by continuing to make healthy decisions, support cancer research and awareness funds, and care for people who have cancer.
Remember that small things can make a big difference. Whether one chooses a healthy diet, goes for a workout, or helps someone with cancer, each step counts towards fighting cancer.
World Cancer Day is a reminder that cancer is a universal experience, either directly or indirectly. But it also shows us that when we work together, we can progress in preventing, treating, and eventually beating cancer.
REFERENCES:
https://www.worldcancerday.org/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Cancer_Day
https://www.cancerresearch.org/world-cancer-day
https://www.knowledge-action-portal.com/en/content/world-cancer-day-4-february