“Cancer can be prevented too”’ is the theme of a new campaign being launched in the lead up to World Cancer Day on 4 February, by the International Union Against Cancer (UICC). The campaign is backed by a new scientific report: “Protection against cancer causing infections” which focuses on the nine infections that can lead to cancer.
“Of the 12 million people who are diagnosed with cancer each year around 20% of cases can be attributed to viral and bacterial infections that either directly cause or increase the risk of cancer,” said Professor David Hill, UICC president. “For this reason the UICC, with over 300 member organisations in more than 100 countries will focus this year’s World Cancer Day campaign on increasing awareness of the contribution of infections to the global cancer burden.”
The campaign aims to raise awareness of the fact that the risk of developing cancer can potentially be reduced by up to 40% through simple lifestyle changes and other control measures such as vaccination, regular physical activity, eating healthily, limiting alcohol consumption, reducing sun exposure and avoiding tobacco. Despite the existence of preventative measures, there is a clear disparity between low- and high-income countries in incidence rates of cancer related to infections.
