The WCRF global network welcomes UICC World Cancer Day

The World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) global network is delighted to support World Cancer Day and welcomes the International Union Against Cancer’s decision to focus on the preventable nature of the disease. The message this year is that “cancer can be prevented too”, and spreading this message is integral to our activities within the WCRF global network.

Cancer is a global disease, with 12 million people being diagnosed each year and 7.6 million people dying 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.

But the good news is that cancer is highly preventable. Our recent report, Policy and Action for Cancer Prevention contains new estimates of preventability. These show that about a third of the most common cancers in high income countries, and about a quarter in low- and middle-income countries, can be prevented by eating a healthy plant-based diet, being physically active and maintaining a healthy weight. Through our activities in our global network countries – WCRF UK, WCRF NL, WCRF HK, WCRF FR/FMRC and AICR we educate and inform people about these important cancer prevention messages.

Our International Research Grant Programme supports leading international researchers in the area of nutrition and cancer prevention. And our Continuous Update Project ensures that the evidence is kept current on an ongoing basis, so that we can be sure our cancer prevention messages are based on the most up to date science available.

As well as focusing on healthy behaviours such as exercising regularly, eating healthily and maintaining a healthy weight, the World Cancer Day campaign highlights other ways that individuals can reduce their risk of developing cancer, including avoiding important risk factors such as smoking and excessive sun exposure.

The campaign also focuses on preventing cancers caused by infections. Some cancers such as cervical, liver and stomach cancers are caused by chronic infections. Prevention of these is possible through interventions such as vaccination, antibiotics, improved sanitation and learning simple avoidance strategies.

The WCRF global network endorses the work of UICC in uniting member organisations in more than 100 countries in the global fight against cancer. We hope the work of organisations around the world to mark World Cancer Day raises awareness and provides an important call to action in the fight against this terrible – but largely preventable – disease.

Marilyn Gentry

President/CEO World Cancer Research Fund global network