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The Cancer Society Of Ghana Mark "World Cancer Day" Tomorrow


Saturday, February 4 is World Cancer Day.  It is a global action led by the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) to unite the world’s population in the fight against cancer.

The cancer society of Ghana has called for increase in awareness education about the leading cancer risks factors, such as tobacco, alcohol, unhealthy diet, physical inactivity as the world mark world cancer day.

A press release issue and copied to www.donkorsblog.com by Professor E.K. Wiredu, chairman of the Trustees, Cancer Society of Ghana said,

The theme for this year’s campaign is “We can. I can”.  Reducing the global cancer burden require the efforts of everyone (collective or individuals). The World Cancer Day has been marked across the globe since February 4, 2000 since the World Summit Against Cancer for the New Millennium in Paris and covered by the Paris Charter.  

The Charter aimed at the promotion of the research for curing as well as preventing the disease cancer, upgrading the provided services to cancer patients, the sensitization of the common opinion and mobilization of the global community against cancer.

Sixteen years on, the Charter has succeeded in placing cancer right on the menu of policy makers. Everyone is been forced to give cancer the desired attention. Currently there are 14 million new cancer cases every year. This is projected to rise to 21.7 million cases per year by the year 2030. There are 8.2 million cancer deaths every year today. There will be 13 million cancer deaths per year by the year 2030.
  
According to him, There is a projected 70% increase in cancer deaths in low and middle income countries. Globally, the top five most frequent cancers are cancers of the lung, breast, colorectum, prostate and stomach. In Ghana the leading causes of cancer deaths in women are those of the cervix, breast, liver, stomach, and colorectum. The leading causes of cancer deaths in men are cancers of the liver, prostate, stomach, lung and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (National Cancer Control).

There is the need for increased awareness and education about the leading cancer risk factors- tobacco, alcohol, environmental, unhealthy diet, physical inactivity and cancer-causing infections. By addressing these risk factors, one third of common cancers can be prevented. 

We can together create healthy schools, workplaces and cities. We can promote education for many more to recognize signs and symptoms of cancers. We can advocate for policies to support healthy lifestyle choices, e.g. tobacco taxation. We can improve access to early detection, screening, and timely diagnosis and referral and also put in place national vaccination programmes. 

This has been a challenge for many who have been unable to vaccinate against hepatitis B infection after testing. As an individual there are choices you could also make towards reducing the cancer burden- quit smoking, reduce alcohol consumption, exercise regularly, adopt a healthy diet and improve your awareness about cancers.   

We need to work to improve access to quality, affordable surgery, radiotherapy and essential medicines for persons affected by cancer and for vaccines for cancer-causing infections.   

He said, The Cancer Society of Ghana will continue to work together with other advocates to keep up the fight against cancer in the country. 

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