In 2023, the global cancer community commemorates World Cancer Day, on February 4, with the slogan "Close the care gap", and the call to unite our voices and take action.

1. DR.ANJALATCHI MUTHUKUMARAN
VICE PRINCIPAL
ERA COLLEGE OF NURSING
LUCKNOW-226003

2. World Cancer Day 2023
 World Cancer Day is celebrated
around the world on 4 February to
spread information and encourage
people about cancer prevention,
early detection and treatment.
 The initiative of World Cancer Day
2023 first goes back to the
promotion and support of the World
Cancer Declaration in the year 2008
by the Union for International
Cancer Control.

3.  Cancer is a generic term for a large group
of diseases that can affect any part of the
body. Other terms used are malignant
tumours and neoplasms.
 One defining feature of cancer is the rapid
creation of abnormal cells that grow
beyond their usual boundaries, and which
can then invade adjoining parts of the body
and spread to other organs; the latter
process is referred to as metastasis.
 Widespread metastases are the primary
cause of death from cancer.

4.  Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide,
accounting for nearly 10 million deaths in 2020, or
nearly one in six deaths.
 The most common cancers are breast, lung, colon and
rectum and prostate cancers.
 Around one-third of deaths from cancer are due to
tobacco use, high body mass index, alcohol
consumption, low fruit and vegetable intake, and lack
of physical activity.
 Cancer-causing infections, such as human
papillomavirus (HPV) and hepatitis, are responsible for
approximately 30% of cancer cases in low- and lower-
middle-income countries.
 Many cancers can be cured if detected early and
treated effectively.

5. Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide, accounting for nearly 10
million deaths in 2020 (1). The most common in 2020 (in terms of new
cases of cancer) were:
 breast (2.26 million cases);
 lung (2.21 million cases);
 colon and rectum (1.93 million cases);
 prostate (1.41 million cases);
 skin (non-melanoma) (1.20 million cases); and
stomach (1.09 million cases).
The most common causes of cancer death in 2020 were:
 lung (1.80 million deaths);
 colon and rectum (916 000 deaths);
 liver (830 000 deaths);
 stomach (769 000 deaths); and
 breast (685 000 deaths).
 Each year, approximately 400 000 children develop cancer.
 The most common cancers vary between countries. Cervical cancer is
the most common in 23 countries.

6. Cancer arises from the transformation of normal cells into tumour
cells in a multi-stage process that generally progresses from a
pre-cancerous lesion to a malignant tumour.
These changes are the result of the interaction between a person's
genetic factors and three categories of external agents,
including:
 physical carcinogens, such as ultraviolet and ionizing radiation;
 chemical carcinogens, such as asbestos, components of tobacco
smoke, alcohol, aflatoxin (a food contaminant), and arsenic (a
drinking water contaminant); and
 biological carcinogens, such as infections from certain viruses,
bacteria, or parasites.
Source :WHO, through its cancer research agency, the International
Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), maintains a classification
of cancer-causing agents.

7.  Tobacco use, alcohol consumption, unhealthy diet,
physical inactivity and air pollution are risk factors for
cancer and other non-communicable diseases.
 Some chronic infections are risk factors for cancer; this is
a particular issue in low- and middle-income countries.
 Approximately 13% of cancers diagnosed in 2018 globally
were attributed to carcinogenic infections, including
Helicobacter pylori, human papilloma virus (HPV),
hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, and Epstein-Barr
virus (2).
 Hepatitis B and C viruses and some types of HPV increase
the risk for liver and cervical cancer, respectively.
 Infection with HIV increases the risk of developing cervical
cancer six-fold and substantially increases the risk of
developing select other cancers such as Kaposi sarcoma.

9.  This year's theme marks the second year of
the campaign “close the care gap” which is
about understanding the inequities in cancer
care and taking actions to make the
necessary progress to address them.

10.  On November 7th, National Cancer Awareness
Day is observed to commemorate the birth
anniversary of Nobel Prize-winning scientist
Madame Curie. Marie Curie, who was born in
Warsaw, Poland in 1867, is best known for
discovering radium and polonium and making
significant contributions to the fight against
cancer.
 Her research resulted in the development of
nuclear energy and radiotherapy for cancer
treatment.

11.  WHY DOES NATIONAL CANCER AWARENESS
DAY MATTER?
 1) India has a high death rate
 Although the incidence of cancer in India is
much lower than in developed countries,
death rates are higher due to late detection
for a variety of reasons. To save lives, it is
critical to raise and spread awareness about
this deadly disease.

12.  2) Promoting mandatory screenings for
women
 In India, one woman dies from breast cancer
for every two newly diagnosed women.
 3) Preventing cancer-causing behaviors
 The goal of National Cancer Awareness Day is
to raise awareness about early detection and
avoiding cancer-causing lifestyle choices.
According to the Lancet report, tobacco use
is a risk factor for 14 different types of
cancer.

13.  Under World Cancer Day 2023, every year
many events are held worldwide with the
aim of bringing schools, business markets,
parks, community halls, community and
organization together and it is expected that
according to World Cancer Awareness Day
2023 cancer The person affected is not
alone.
 That means all of us will play a mutually
respected role in the responsibility of
reducing this global disease.

14.  On February 4th, 2000, the World Summit
Against Cancer for the New Millennium was
held in Paris, marking the beginning of World
Cancer Day.
 The introduction of World Cancer Day is a
key component of the Paris Charter, which
also seeks to advance cancer research,
prevention, patient care, awareness, and
worldwide mobilisation.

15.  To bring various issues related to cancer to the
society, World Cancer Day 2023 will be celebrated
tomorrow i.e. on 4th February this year i.e. the main
purpose of celebrating this day is to educate health
professionals and common people on a target of
reducing cancer globally. Work has to be done by the
public. and was first launched in the year 2000 at the
World Summit against Cancer of the New Millennium
in Paris.
 Under World Cancer Day Theme, let us tell you that
the multi-year theme for this World Cancer Day 2022
and 2024 is “Close the Care Gap”. The main objective
of the Jesus theme is to focus more attention on risk
engagement and opportunities on a global scale.

16.  blue pink and teal thyroid cancer
 white pearl lung cancer
 blue yellow and purple bladder cancer
 black skin cancer
 lavender all cancers
 purple pancreatic cancer
 periwinkle blue colon cancer
 light purple testicular cancer
 dark blue colon cancer
 lime green Ger Hodgkin lymphoma cancer
 yellow bone cancer
 peach uterine cancer
 white and burgundy head and neck cancer
 burgundy multiple myeloma
 orange kidney cancer

17.  As you and we know, cancer is a condition of the human
body in which some cells in the body continue to grow
uncontrollably. And these uncontrolled cells take the form
of cancer after some time. In fact, cancer is the single
most common cause of death globally.
 According to World Cancer Day 2023 Importance, the
general awareness about cancer screening prevention and
treatment is very low when it comes to India and the
global population.
 In fact, literacy rate and low income greatly affect cancer
awareness. This time for World Cancer Day 2023 which will
be observed globally on 4th February, low and middle
income countries will face a unique challenge in addressing
the risk of cancer caused by many chronic diseases.
 In fact, lack of education, delay in diagnosis and low
access to affordable treatment are the most dangerous.

18.  Between 30 and 50% of cancers can
currently be prevented by avoiding risk
factors and implementing existing evidence-
based prevention strategies.
 The cancer burden can also be reduced
through early detection of cancer and
appropriate treatment and care of patients
who develop cancer.
 Many cancers have a high chance of cure if
diagnosed early and treated appropriately.

19. Cancer risk can be reduced by:
 not using tobacco;
 maintaining a healthy body weight;
 eating a healthy diet, including fruit and vegetables;
 doing physical activity on a regular basis;
 avoiding or reducing consumption of alcohol;
 getting vaccinated against HPV and hepatitis B if you belong to
a group for which vaccination is recommended;
 avoiding ultraviolet radiation exposure (which primarily results
from exposure to the sun and artificial tanning devices) and/or
using sun protection measures;
 ensuring safe and appropriate use of radiation in health care
(for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes);
 minimizing occupational exposure to ionizing radiation; and
 reducing exposure to outdoor air pollution and indoor air
pollution, including radon (a radioactive gas produced from the
natural decay of uranium, which can accumulate in buildings —
homes, schools and workplaces).

20.  First of all, for the prevention of Cancer, we
have to take less poetic diet under highly
processed substances in fruits and vegetables.
 Apart from this, we have to have minimum
consumption of tobacco and alcohol under
World Cancer Day 2023 Awareness Day.
 Along with this, one has to exercise regularly
and maintain a healthy weight.
 We have to protect ourselves under Prevention
of Cancer and also from coming in contact with
harmful chemicals in the environment.
 Be careful about UV rays and wear protective
clothing by using a good sunscreen.

21.  Early detection
 Early diagnosis
 Screening
 Screening aims to identify individuals with
findings suggestive of a specific cancer or pre-
cancer before they have developed symptoms.
 Treatment
 A correct cancer diagnosis is essential for
appropriate and effective treatment because
every cancer type requires a specific treatment
regimen. Treatment usually includes surgery,
radiotherapy, and/or systemic therapy
(chemotherapy, hormonal treatments, targeted
biological therapies).

22.  Palliative care
 Palliative care is treatment to relieve, rather
than cure, symptoms and suffering caused by
cancer and to improve the quality of life of
patients and their families. Palliative care
can help people live more comfortably. It is
particularly needed in places with a high
proportion of patients in advanced stages of
cancer where there is little chance of cure.

23. Prevention of Cancer
 Although many forms of cancer are not preventable, some
people will still be diagnosed with cancer even if they lead a
healthy lifestyle.
Cancer risk can be lowered in a number of ways, including:
 Consuming a nutritious diet high in fruits and vegetables and
low in processed foods and red meat
 Regular exercise and maintenance of a healthy weight
 Abstaining from the use of tobacco products
 Minimum alcohol consumption
 Taking precautions against ultraviolet rays include using
sunscreen and wearing protective clothing
 Participating in the recommended cancer screenings on a
regular basis
 Avoiding exposure to harmful chemicals in the environment
 Vaccination against virus human papillomavirus (HPV) that
can cause cancer

26.  (1) Ferlay J, Ervik M, Lam F, Colombet M, Mery L,
Piñeros M, et al. Global Cancer Observatory:
Cancer Today. Lyon: International Agency for
Research on Cancer; 2020
(https://gco.iarc.fr/today, accessed February
2021).
 (2) de Martel C, Georges D, Bray F, Ferlay J,
Clifford GM. Global burden of cancer
attributable to infections in 2018: a worldwide
incidence analysis. Lancet Glob Health.
2020;8(2):e180-e190.
 (3) Assessing national capacity for the prevention
and control of noncommunicable diseases: report
of the 2019 global survey. Geneva: World Health
Organization; 2020.