Today, 4 February, marks World Cancer Day!

Support the cancer prevention campaign and sign the World Cancer Declaration now

 

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‘Cancer can be prevented too’ is the theme of the UICC World Cancer Day celebrated today with the publication of a new scientific report, ‘Protection against cancer causing infections,’ focusing on the prevention of  nine infections that can lead to cancer:

• Hepatitis B virus: liver disease
• Hepatitis C virus: liver cancer
• Human papillomavirus: cervical and head and neck cancers
• Epstein-Barr virus: Burkitt’s lymphoma
• Human immunodeficiency virus: Kaposi’s sarcoma and AIDS-related lymphomas:
• Helicobacter pylori: stomach cancer
• Liver flukes: cancer of the bile ducts (cholangiocarcinoma)
• Schistosomiasis: bladder cancer
• HTLV-1: adult T-cell leukaemia

An estimated 20% of all cancers in developing countries and 6% in developed countries are known to be caused by viral and bacterial infections. The risk of developing cancer can potentially be reduced by up to 40% through simple lifestyle changes and other control measures such as vaccination, regular physical activity, eating healthily, limiting alcohol consumption, reducing sun exposure and avoiding tobacco.

The campaign is supported by the WHO, and over 300 UICC member organizations, including ESMO, as well as spokesperson Harald zur Hausen, 2008 Nobel Laureate in Medicine or Physiology for his discovery of human papillomaviruses causing cervical cancer.

For information on the World Cancer Day Campaign, please visit: //www.worldcancercampaign.org/