The Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has stated that that 1.5 million lives, which would be lost to cancer, could be saved every year if decisive measures were taken to achieve the World Health Organization’s (WHO) ‘25 by 25’ target; to reduce premature deaths due to non-communicable diseases (NCDs) by 25% by 2025.
Currently, 7.6 million people die from cancer worldwide every year, out of which, four million people die prematurely (aged 30 to 69 years). If no action is taken to raise awareness about the disease and to develop practical strategies to address cancer these figures are expected to increase to six million premature cancer deaths per year by 2025. “The estimate of 1.5 m lives lost per year to cancer that could be prevented must serve to galvanise our efforts in implementing WHO’s ‘25 by 25’ target,” said Dr Christopher Wild, director of IARC. “There is now a need for a global commitment to help drive advancements in policy and encourage implementation of comprehensive National Cancer Control Plans. If we are to succeed in this, we have a collective responsibility to support low- and middle-income countries who are tackling a cancer epidemic with insufficient resources.” The 1.5 million lives lost per year represent 25% of the estimated six million premature cancer deaths that will occur by 2025, and the six million figure is itself based on population projections of current numbers and ageing.
