World Cancer Day To Be Observed on Feb 4th

PESHAWAR: World Cancer Day would also be observed in Pakistan on February 4 like other parts of the world.

World Health Organization (WHO) has announced February 4th will be designated as World Cancer Day, a day where citizens worldwide are encouraged to increase awareness of what WHO is calling a “global cancer crisis.”


The WHO researchers estimate that 84 million people across the globe will die of cancer by 2015. The majority of these individuals will not receive treatment and many may not even be formally diagnosed. In some nations, such as India and China, cancer is not considered a serious health threat.

An increase in population, as well as tobacco use and exposure to other carcinogens, such as asbestos, is to be blamed for the worldwide increase in new cancer cases.

In India, the cancer crisis is of special concern, as the number of individuals exposed to carcinogenic asbestos is said to be the highest in the world. India imports an alarming amount of Canadian-mined asbestos each year, and because there are no asbestos-usage regulations in their country, the number of Indian citizens dying from mesothelioma cancer has increased in recent years.

WHO will team up with the International Union Against Cancer (UICC) to promote cancer research and increased its funding. The UICC is also giving people an opportunity to sign their “World Cancer Declaration” and devote themselves to the mission of worldwide cancer control. Each year on February 4, WHO joins with the sponsoring International Union Against Cancer to promote ways to ease the global burden of cancer.

Preventing cancer and raising quality of life for cancer patients are recurring themes. Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide and accounted for 7.9 million deaths (around 13% of all deaths) in 2007. Lung, stomach, liver, colon and breast cancer cause the most cancer deaths each year.