World Cancer Day Promotes Prevention and Awareness

Debates have been swirling over the past few months over cancer screening procedures, with news over the frequency and effectiveness of mammograms, prostate cancer testing, colorectal cancer screenings and other procedures all making headlines. But the World Health Organization (WHO) and others are hoping that on World Cancer Day, people will focus on prevention of this devastating health scourge - the No. 1 cause of global deaths - instead of controversy. The WHO guesses that a 45 percent increase in cancer-related deaths by 2030; it also estimates that 84 million people worldwide will die of cancer between 2005 and 2015. Though cancer has the potential to affect anyone at any time, like many other diseases, it's most deadly in low- and middle-income countries, where resources to detect cancer in its early stages are limited or nonexistent. Cancer kills more people worldwide than HIV, AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis combined.

Though researchers remain committed to finding more effective ways to treat cancer, the WHO maintains that prevention is key to controlling cancer deaths. The theme of this year's World Cancer Day is relatively understated: "cancer can be prevented too," and some common sense measures are being touted, such as not using tobacco, maintaining a healthy diet and exercise, limited consumption of alcohol, and protection against cancer-causing infections. At least one-third of all cancer cases could be prevented, according to the WHO, particularly cancers associated with tobacco use like lung cancer, and cancers of the larynx, esophagus and stomach. A healthy diet is associated with preventing cancers of the breast, kidneys and endometrium.

Cancer is a disease that is at once spoken of in terms that are clinical and scientific, and also deeply emotional and personal. I know well how breast cancer has taken all too many lives. I remember my mom being called back multiple times over the years for further breast-cancer screening after mammogram revealed a small lump or other cause for concern. In her case, it has so far turned out to be non-cancerous. Yet for millions of women, a more challenging fate still awaits. I've also lost an aunt and a cousin to cancer. Virtually every person I know has had a friend or relative who has battled the disease, or dealt with it themselves.

World Cancer Day is only the latest in a series of events - some more official than others - to spread the word about cancer. October was breast cancer awareness month, and several prominent organizations joined in that cause - most notably the National Football League, which had its members sport pink hats, shoes, gloves, etc. A Facebook craze also swept the Web recently in the name of breast cancer awareness, with girls posting status updates that simply listed a color - the color of the bra she was wearing that day. That craze in particular drew criticism for being more gimmicky than effective. But World Cancer Day and the World Health Organization's steadfast message of common sense approaches to prevention is worth highlighting, since it backs substance with the more general message of awareness.