Dear IMA Colleagues,

WORLD CANCER DAY is on 4th Feb.2015.

Cancer is a complex group of 100 plus diseases. Cancer is a major public health problem that affects people in every nook & corner of every country of the world regardless of caste, creed, economic or social status. The disease has impact not only, on, the patient, but the whole family also suffers with him, and more so economically too. Unfortunately, most Indians have the pessimism that “Cancer means Death”, which is definitely, not true.

The Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) started the World Cancer Day to help save millions of preventable deaths each year by raising awareness and education about cancer, and pressing governments and individuals across the world to take action against the disease. It is observed on 4th Feb. every year, in almost the whole world.

There were 14.1 million new cancer cases, 8.2 million cancer deaths and 32.6 million people living with cancer (within 5 years of diagnosis) in 2012 worldwide.  While in India 1 Million new cases occurred in 2012 with 6.8 lakh deaths. We have 17.9 million people living with Cancer (within 5 years of diagnosis). A WHO report shows that Cancer mortality in India has been growing by 11percent annually. Breast Cancer is becoming more common in 30’s & 40’s, and the rates are also increasing in India.

World Cancer Day 2015 :-Taking place under the tagline ‘NOT BEYOND US’, World Cancer Day 2015 will take a positive and proactive approach to the fight against cancer, highlighting that solutions do exist across the continuum of cancer, and that they are within our reach. World Cancer Day is a unique opportunity to raise awareness that there is much that can be done at an individual, community and governmental level, to harness and mobilise these solutions and catalyse positive change. By moving forward together we have the potential to show: Cancer. It is not beyond us.

Prevention of Cancer

Ensuring the availability of, and access to, early detection programs for cancer can significantly reduce the cancer burden in all countries.Life style modifications namely abstinence from Tobacco, limited consumption of alcohol, regular exercises, healthy diet with good food habits, safe environment, maintaining healthy weight-avoiding obesity & vaccination against Hepatitis B  have always been stressed to prevent Cancer.

40% of cancers can be prevented, and one-third of cancers can be cured through early diagnosis and treatment. The economic cost of lost life years due to cancer exceed that of any other disease.

All branches are advised to observe WORLD CANCER DAY -arrange exhibitions, distribute pamphlets , take  out rallies, hold Press conference, organize Cancer Detection Camps etc.

Pl. do email a report of the activity along with photographs to IMA HQ with a copy to [email protected].