12 important updates for World Cancer Day
Click Here to Manage Email Alerts
Today is World Cancer Day.
The theme of this year’s observance is “Together, all our actions matter.”
The message supports the understanding that everyone can take steps — big or small — to reduce the worldwide cancer burden.
This goal may be even more important due to the impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on cancer care.
“It appears quite certain that disruptions to cancer services in the past year will lead to diagnosis at later stages, which — in turn — will translate into higher cancer-related mortality,” Prof. Anil D’Cruz, president of Union for International Cancer Control and director of oncology at Apollo Hospitals in India, said in a press release. “Worse still, the wider economic impact of the pandemic on cancer care in all probability will be felt for many years to come, even in high-income countries. In low- and middle-income countries, the impact is unfathomable. However, it is heartening to see the incredible response of the cancer community to mitigate these consequences. ... Their stories are inspiring and these organizations need all the support we can provide to keep doing their incredible work.”
Union for International Cancer Control created World Cancer Day in 2000.
Part of the effort focuses on healthy lifestyle choices, such as getting sufficient physical activity, following a healthy diet, protecting against sun exposure, limiting alcohol consumption and avoiding tobacco.
Other objectives include educating the public about the signs and symptoms of cancer to ensure early detection and treatment, encouraging elected representatives to commit ample resources to reduce cancer mortality, and increasing awareness that lifestyle behaviors can have a considerable effect on cancer risk.
In conjunction with World Cancer Day, Healio and HemOnc Today present the following updates that provide insights into strategies that could help reduce the global cancer burden.
- Adhering to the basic principles of a Mediterranean diet prevented disease progression among men with localized prostate cancer on active surveillance. Read more.
- A coalition of 76 cancer organizations released an open letter urging Americans to make cancer care a priority amid the COVID-19 pandemic, emphasizing the benefits of screening and timely treatment far outweigh the risks. Read more.
- Greater adherence to a diabetes risk-reduction diet appeared associated with increased OS among a cohort of breast cancer survivors. Read more.
- Obesity-associated cancers are an emergent problem among younger adults. Read more.
- Patients who underwent lung cancer screening had a significant reduction in mortality associated with the disease, although it came with the potential for overdiagnosis. Read more.
- A poor-quality diet appeared associated with an increased risk for early-onset, high-risk distal and rectal adenomas. Read more.
- Physical activity before and after breast cancer treatment appeared associated with significant reductions in recurrence and mortality rates among a cohort of patients with high-risk disease. Read more.
- An updated American Cancer Society guideline increases the amount of weekly physical activity recommended to reduce cancer risk. The guideline also suggested individuals reduce consumption of red and processed meat, sugar-sweetened beverages, processed foods and alcohol. Read more.
- Recreational physical activity appeared associated with improved survival outcomes among women with endometrial cancer. Read more.
- Cancer survivors often overestimate the quality of their diets, reporting a higher-than-actual intake of fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Read more.
- A healthy diet appeared associated with a decreased risk for prostate cancer. Read more.
- The risk for colorectal cancer increased with cigarette smoking. Read more.
Collapse
Healio Reporting
Read more about
Click Here to Manage Email Alerts