World Cancer Day - "Together it is possible"
4 February 2012 -- Each year on 4 February, WHO and International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) supports International Union Against Cancer (UICC) to promote ways to ease the global burden of cancer. Preventing cancer and raising quality of life for cancer patients are recurring themes. WHO and IARC will focus this year on screening and vaccination.
Breast Cancer Awareness Month
October 2011 -- Breast cancer is currently the top cancer in women worldwide, both in the developed and the developing world. The majority of breast cancer deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries, where most of the women are diagnosed in late stages due mainly to lack of awareness and barriers to access to health services.
UN high-level meeting on NCD prevention and control
19-20 September 2011 -- The decision by the United Nations General Assembly to convene a High-level Meeting on NCDs on 19-20 September 2011 presents a unique opportunity for the intenational community to take action against the epidemic of noncommunicable diseases (cardiovascular disease, cancer, chronic lung diseases and diabetes), save millions of lives and enhance development initiatives.
Global status report on NCDs
April 2011 -- Noncommunicable diseases are the leading killer today and are on the increase. WHO Global status report on noncommunicable diseases confirms that 36.1 million people died from NCDs in 2008. The report provides a baseline for future monitoring of NCD-related trends and for assessing the progress that countries are making to address the epidemic.
fact buffet
7.6 million7.6 million people worldwide died from cancer in 2008.
Cancer mortality and morbidity70% Approximately 70% of cancer deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries.
Key facts about cancer30%of cancers could be prevented.
Read the fact file about cancerHighlights
About the Cancer Control Programme
The key mission of WHO Cancer Control Programme is to promote national cancer control policies plans and programmes, integrated to noncommunicable diseases and other related problems. Our core functions are to set norms and standards, promote surveillance, encourage evidence based prevention, early detection, treatment and palliative tailored to the different socioeconomic settings.
What is cancer?
Cancer is a generic term for a large group of diseases that can affect any part of the body. Other terms used are malignant tumours and neoplasms.
One defining feature of cancer is the rapid creation of abnormal cells that grow beyond their usual boundaries, and which can then invade adjoining parts of the body and spread to other organs. This process is referred to as metastasis. Metastases are the major cause of death from cancer.