World Cancer Day 2012

World Cancer Day is part of the World Cancer Campaign, adopted at the 'World Summit Against Cancer for the New Millennium' on 04 February 2000. World Cancer Day is being observed on February 4 across the world as an initiative of Union for International Cancer Control (UICC), a global consortium of more than 470 cancer-fighting organizations in over 120 countries. The primary objective of this initiative is to promote awareness about cancer and to encourage people to go for its early prevention, detection, and treatment. Every year, a specific theme is decided to observe the World Cancer Day and the theme for 2012 is:

"Together it is possible! "

The sluggish life style, the increasing trend of taking junk foods and fast foods, the rising hazardous environment is the prime causes of Cancer, and day-by-day the numbers of its patients are increasing because of adopting this trend in their routine life. Today, cancer is prevailing as the most common disease in every strata of society with no absolute cure till date. The unhealthy and unusual lifestyle is the major cause of cancer these days, though the exact causes of caner are still ambiguous. The disease leads to a large number of deaths every year in its various forms in which over 70% of mortality is reported from the low and middle-income countries.

Here is an estimated list of deaths due to various kind of cancer across the world:

• Death due to Lung cancer: 1.3 million deaths/year
• Death due to Stomach cancer: 8,03, 000 deaths/year
• Death due to Colorectal cancer: 6,39,000 deaths/year
• Death due to Liver cancer: 6,10, 000 deaths/year
• Death due to Breast cancer: 5,19, 000 deaths/year

Cancer is a state when cells start to divide and grow uncontrollably, which ultimately leads to the formation of malignant tumors that invades the other parts of body slowly through the lymphatic system or bloodstream. Though, it is very complex to find the exact reason for cancer, but some of the major reasons of cancer can be listed as:

• Growing age
• Tobacco
• Sunlight
• Ionizing radiation
• Certain chemicals and other substances
• Some viruses and bacteria
• Certain hormones
• Family history of cancer
• Alcohol
• Poor diet, lack of physical activity, or being overweight

World Cancer Day (WCD) is a global initiative by UICC, which brings the entire world together to fight for a single cause and reduce the epidemic of cancer. It helps million of people across the globe to prevent and fight against cancer by creating awareness and educating about cancer, and persuading governments across the world to take action against the disease. People, businesses, governments and non-profit organizations work in unity on World Cancer Day to make the general public aware of the different types of cancer, how to watch for it, treatments and preventive measures. This process includes various activities such as:

• Television, radio, online and newspaper advertisements and articles focused to fight cancer.
• Number of campaigns on national and international level that targets the parents of the family that help them minimizing the risk of cancer in their families.
• Breakfasts, lunch or dinners with an objective to raise funds for the projects and research for fighting cancer.
• Setting several public information booths providing information kits, fact sheets, booklets, posters and other items that promote the cancer awareness, prevention, risk reduction, and treatment.

Moreover, many countries raises the issues of specific cancer such as breast cancer, lung cancer, skin cancer, and cancer in children with a focus to reduce and prevent the risk of cancer. World Health Organization (WHO), the directing and coordinating health authority of United Nations (UN) also works in coordination with International Union Against Cancer (UICC) on 04th February to promote fight against global burden of cancer.