World Cancer Day – February 4

18 million people were diagnosed with cancer around the world in 2018. World Cancer Day aims to remind people that, due to research, half of those diagnosed with cancer in the UK now survive the disease for more than ten years. The goal is that 3 out of 4 people diagnosed with the terrible disease will survive it by 2034.

A Need for Change

Almost everyone we know has lost someone to cancer or knows someone who is battling cancer. And, although cancer has been around for decades, education is still very needed in the field. From women knowing how to detect the early signs of breast cancer, to young people understanding the dangers of smoking, it is all still work in progress around the world. While there are billions of pounds/dollars invested in research and development of cancer drugs around the world, lifestyle changes are also key to eradicating this disease.

World Cancer Day also encourages people to prevent, detect and treat cancer. The day was established in 2000.

According to Cancer Research UK, there were an average of 363,484 new cases of cancer between 2014 and 2016 in the UK. As mentioned before, half of those diagnosed will survive for ten years or more. What’s more, the survival rate has doubled in the UK over the last four decades.

Deaths from Cancer around the World

Here is how cancer measures against other causes of death worldwide since 1990.

And here is the data for the UK:

However, there is still a lot to be done to raise awareness, reduce the stigma around the disease, and fight misinformation. It is estimated that almost 10 million people died prematurely because of cancer in 2017. Some two-thirds of all cancers occur in people over the age of 50. Join the World Cancer Day and learn more about preventing and managing this disease.

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