This year World Cancer Day (WCD) 2010 brings a positive message that some cancer can be prevented.

Today is WCD (4 February 2010) and it aims to promote the message that around 40 per cent of cancers are potentially preventable, and that humanity has more knowledge than ever about how to control cancer.

WCD is organized by the International Union Against Cancer (UICC), and this year it will focus on how the risk of developing cancers related to tobacco use, heavy alcohol consumption, excessive sun exposure and obesity can be significantly reduced by avoiding these risk factors plus encouraging healthy behaviour such as regular exercise and eating healthily. 

According to the UICC, every year 12 million people receive a cancer diagnosis and 7.6 million people die of cancer. If no action is taken, the worldwide cancer burden is projected to reach 26 million new diagnoses in the year 2030, and 17 million deaths, with the most rapid increases occurring in low- and middle-income countries.

More information

About WCD and to see how you can get involved in the day, visit the UICC’s web page.