World Cancer Day – February 4, is a concept established to run from 2016-2018 under the slogan “We can. I can.”
This awareness is to explore how everyone – as a collective or as individuals – can do their part to reduce the global burden of cancer.
World Cancer Day was founded by the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) to support the goals of the World Cancer Declaration, written in 2008.
The day is a chance to reflect on what you can do, make a pledge and take action. Whatever you choose to do ‘We can. I can.’ make a difference to the fight against cancer.
One key message under the tagline is to make healthy lifestyle choices.
As identified and emphasised, everyone can take steps to reduce their risk of cancer by choosing healthy options including quitting smoking, keeping physically active and choosing healthy food and drinks.
Tobacco use is the single largest preventable cause of cancer globally. Quitting smoking will have a major positive impact on an individual’s health and that of their families and friends.
The good news is that quitting at any age is beneficial, increasing life expectancy and improving quality of life.
Individuals can also reduce their risk of many common cancers by maintaining a healthy weight, and making physical activity part of their everyday lives.
Being overweight or obese increases the risk of ten cancers - bowel, breast, uterine, ovarian, pancreatic, oesophagus, kidney, liver, advanced prostate and gallbladder cancers.
Specific changes to a person’s diet can also make a difference – for example, individuals can limit their intake of red meat and avoid processed meat.
Alcohol is also strongly linked with an increased risk of several cancers. Reducing alcohol consumption decreases the risk of cancers of the mouth, pharynx, larynx, oesophagus, bowel, liver and breast.
Overall, more than a third of common cancers could be prevented by a healthy diet, being physically active and maintaining a healthy body weight.
Reducing exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun and other sources, such as solariums, is also important to reduce the risk of many skin cancers.
Everyone can make healthy lifestyle choices to reduce their risk of cancer.
Over the weeks, Loop lifestyle will bring more information on cancer.