World Cancer Day annually observed on February 4, which started two decades ago in 2000. This international day is a ‘global uniting initiative’ led by the Union of International Cancer Control (UICC) across the globe to raise cancer awareness and encourage support, action, and funding for prevention, detection, and treatment.  

It is an occasion to spread global awareness to end the injustice of preventable suffering from cancer. This year’s theme is “I Can, and I will” which acknowledges that with the right and timely support each patient can find their way to health. It is centered around reducing the global impact that cancer has and in providing support for cancer patients and survivors through catalyzing personal, collective, and government action. It also targets misinformation and stigma about cancer. 

Cancer often creates fear which comes out of ignorance and misconception. More than 30% of cancer cases could be prevented by modifying lifestyle or avoiding key risk factors. About 1/3rd of cancer cases could be reduced if cases are treated and detected at an early stage. 

As per World Health Organization (WHO), it is the second leading cause of death globally. 17 people die from cancer every minute. This high mortality rate makes cancer one of the leading causes of death amongst non-communicable diseases, which’s more than HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria combined.    

But we all can work together to reduce this high mortality due to cancer. Cancer awareness has become exceedingly important in the 21st century. While there have been numerous advancements in the understanding, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer, factors that should contribute to the decline of the disease, the number of new cancer cases diagnosed each year has globally continued to increase.    

According to the WHO, if the incidence of cancer continues to grow at the reported rate, the number of deaths worldwide from cancer will increase to more than 16.3 million by 2040. However, also according to WHO, as many as 40% of deaths from cancer are preventable. As a result, raising awareness of cancer prevention has become a prominent goal of many cancer and health organizations around the world, and World Cancer Day has come to represent an annual reaffirmation of the importance of this goal.   

The research treatment and healthcare access have all improved over time but cancer continues to spread. So it's important to both learn and raise awareness about how we can protect ourselves from this disease. The majority of cancers can be prevented if one is aware of the risk factors. Most of them are curable also if detected early. Lack of awareness of the disease leads to delayed detection and subsequently results in poor outcomes. The timely screening will help prevent cancer before it starts. Specialized screening needs to be done to diagnose specific types of cancer before signs or symptoms appear. A multi-disciplinary approach to treatment can achieve a cure and longer periods of disease-free survival.    

There is no sure shot model of preventive measures to make us immune from cancers. But distancing from the modifiable risk factors helps to decrease our risk of cancer. We need to be wary of risk factors such as family history, tobacco/alcohol consumption, lifestyle, sun exposure, and other vital/environmental factors. I always recommend, people with a family history should undertake annual screening programs as per approved guidelines, while women need to be careful with regards to hormonal uses.    

There is this additional concern that since the pandemic, with shuts down of detection center, and with delayed treatments for cancer, especially in the early months of the pandemic has resulted in patients being diagnosed with more advanced and harder-to-treat stages of cancer. A Lancet study estimates that there may be an increase in cancer deaths as a result of diagnostic delays over the next five years.    

The other concern in Cancer patients who are waiting to hear about the COVID-19 vaccine, if they can also take it. The efficacy and duration of immunity in patients with cancer are still unknown and unexplored. But benefits of vaccination seem to outweigh the risk. Patients with cancer are particularly vulnerable to Covid-19 because of the immune compromising nature of cancer treatment. It is advisable to take the vaccine under proper medical supervision.    

I, Dr. Sarita, a strong believer in preventive oncology, always recommend and stress about how screening and early detection would make the case largely curable disease. Otherwise, cancer can be difficult to accurately diagnose and stage if not done appropriately. I urge you all to participate towards my mission to reduce cancer-related mortality.    

For any Cancer-related queries or concerns,    

Visit my website  

Write me at mail@drsarita.in or drsaritashrivastva@gmail.com 

Or Call me on 9000434492.   

DR. SARITA SHRIVASTVA Consultant Medical Oncology & Hemato-oncology M.B.B.S., M.D.(Radiation Oncology), D.M.(Medical Oncology)