World Cancer Day
4th February 2013
Dr. Rakesh Gupta, MS, FAIS,
Cancer- & Tobacco- Control Department
SEAROC Cancer Center &
SK Soni Hospital, Jaipur
Be Informed
To Stay
Positive
to Cancer
The
global
scene
(UICC)
In Focus for WCD 2013
• Target 5 of the World Cancer
Declaration
• Dispel damaging myths and
misconceptions about cancer,
with the tagline “Cancer - Did you
know?”.
Myth 1 - Cancer is just a health issue
• Truth: Cancer is not just a
health issue
• It has wide-reaching social,
economic, development, and
human rights implications
Myth 1 - Cancer is just a health issue
• Solutions- A multisectoralgovernmental approach
• Establish partnership that work
(not the responsibility of the
health department alone)
Myth 2 - Cancer is a disease of the
wealthy, elderly and developed countries
•Truth: Cancer is a global
epidemic
• It affects all ages and socioeconomic groups with developing
countries bearing a higher and
disproportionate burden
Myth 2 - Cancer is a disease of the
wealthy, elderly and developed countries
• Solution- Optimize resources and
increase capacity to respond to
the needs
• Improve access and delivery of the
effective, quality and affordable
services without an adverse impact
economically
Myth 3 - Cancer is a death sentence
• Truth: Many cancers can
now be cured (a) that were
once considered a death
sentence; and, (b) for many
more people, their cancer can be
treated effectively
Myth 3 - Cancer is a death sentence
• Solution- Cost effective
methods for all resource
settings based on existing cancerspecific risks and available
resources and infrastructure (that
diagnose cancer when it is
curable..!!)
Myth 4 - Cancer is my fate
•Truth: With the right
strategies, a third of the
most common cancers
can be prevented..!!
Myth 4 - Cancer is my fate
• Solution- Reduce Level of
exposure to adverse risk factors
and adopt healthy lifestyle;
• Decide on (a) an END GAME for tobacco;
and, (b) GO for regular physical activity,
“right” use of vegetables and fruits and
vaccinations to control certain infections
Why this global call?
• By 2030, ~12 million cancer deaths
annually
• These six lac deaths each month can
be prevented with increased
governmental support and funding for
prevention, detection and treatment
programmes.
• WHO believes that avoidable deaths
from NCDs can be reduced by 25% by
2025
The economic cost of lost life
years due to cancer exceed that
of any other disease
Cost of cancer: 458 Billion USD;
1.8 billion is the Need
to reduce its risks
The global cost of inaction
against cancer exceeds
the costs of action
“We are at an unprecedented place
with an extraordinary opportunity to
save lives... from primary prevention
to treatment and palliative care”
Dr John Seffrin
CEO, American Cancer Society
Cancers
in
India
Cancer mortality in India:
A nationally representative survey (2012)*
• Cancer is an important cause of adult
deaths
• More than 70% of fatal cancers occur
during the productive ages of 30–69 years
• Rates of cancer deaths were similar
between rural and urban areas; and,
about twice in the least versus the most
educated
*Ref. Dikshit Rajesh et, al. www.thelancet.com Published online
March 28, 2012 DOI:10.1016/S0140-6736(12)60358-4
Cancer mortality in India:
A nationally representative survey (2012)*
• At 30–69 years, the three most common fatal cancers:
• In Men were oral (including lip and pharynx
[22·9%]), stomach [12·6%]), and lung (including
trachea and larynx [11·4%]); and,
• In Women were cervical [17·1%]), stomach
[14·1%]), and breast [10·2%]).
• Tobacco-related cancers represented 42·0% of male
and 18·3% of female cancer deaths.
• There were twice as many deaths from oral cancers as
lung cancers.
*Ref. Dikshit Rajesh et, al. www.thelancet.com Published online
March 28, 2012 DOI:10.1016/S0140-6736(12)60358-4
Its burden
• Prevalence (Cancer cases at any
given time perennially): ~2.7
million survivors
• Incidence (New cases)- ~ 1 million
• Deaths (die due to cancer)- ~0.7
million
The Good News
• One-third to one-fifth of the
incidence in the Developed countries
“despite minimal (sporadic) efforts to
reduce (control) it”’ and,
• Dr. Rajan A Badwe, Director, TMC,
Mumbai_December, 2011
Another good news..!!
• Larger proportion of cancers can be
prevented and/ or diagnosed early
for a complete cure (~50%)
• Tobacco-related cancers- Say NO to tobacco;
and, a user should QUIT at an earliest; and,
• Infection-related cancer- Cancer of Uterine
Cervix
• Cancers of Mouth, Breast and Uterine Cervix if
detected early are almost curable..!!
The third good news..!!
• The most-frequent cancers in
India can diagnosed early for a
complete cure (50%-65%)..!!
• Cancers of Mouth, Breast and
Uterine Cervix (and Penis)
Why..!?
• These occur on body surface;
thus, are highly visible to the
sufferer or his/her carers; OR
• Their symptoms “speak” for
them..!!
The Fourth Good News..!!
• We have more cancer
centers country- and statewide that are better
equipped comprehensively
(than a decade ago).
The Bad News
•Its occurrence is on the
verge on exploding in
India; Already no.1 cause of
deaths globally
• Dr. Rajan A Badwe, Director, TMC,
Mumbai_December, 2011
Why..!?
• People are either not
aware, ignore and/or fear..
plus socio-cultural (life
style) issues !!
•The myths... (already
briefed)!!
Why..!?
• Poor access at Village-,
Town- and District- levels
• Low affordability- High cost
and suboptimal health
cover
• NO facilities for Palliation
Why..!?
• The Care lacks quality and
accountability
• The System for
surveillance is missing
The carry home message
It is only by everyone doing their
part that the world will reduce
the burden of cancer
The UICC
Access to effective, quality and
affordable cancer services is a
right of all individuals; and,
should not be determined by
where you live..!!
“Ab Cancer Se Dar Nahi”
अब कैं सर से डर नह ीं
A Cancer Awareness
Campaign for the Youth
Schools’ Network in
Cancer Prevention
Work plan
• Duration: From World Cancer Day 2013
to 2014
• School-based Activities (Feb.- Oct. 2013):
1. Schools to have wall writings for healthy life
style
2. Arts competition on the theme- I am healthy!
3. Essay on What should children convey parents
and parents reaction- the best 2 gets award
Work plan
• Activities at SEAROC and SKSH
(Nov. 2013 to Jan. 2014)
1.Workshop of the Schools on the "Cancer and
NCD control activities for the next year"- the
best school team competes on Cancer
Awareness Day in Nov 2013
2. Advocacy with the Policy planners to “Reduce
Cancer Risks of Youth”
3. Evaluate outcomes, Report and Plan for the
year 2014- 2015
Useful web links
• http://www.worldcancerday.org/dosomething
http://www.worldcancerday.org/fact-sheets &
http://www.worldcancerday.org/
• http://www.cancer.org/subsites/india/keep-yourselfhealthy-india &
http://www.cancer.org/acs/groups/content/documents
/document/acspc-028634.pdf
• http://www.cancer.org/ &
http://www.cancer.org/cancer/news/features/worldcancer-day-2013
• http://mohfw.nic.in/index3.php?lang=1&level=0&depti
d=52
Acknowledgments
• We sincerely express our sincerest gratitude to
UICC, Geneva, American Cancer Society,
Atlanta, Ministry of Health and Family
Welfare, New Delhi and Deccan Hearld, New
Delhi Bureau for their materials used to
prepare this presentation in public interest.
Dr. Rakesh Gupta
Thanks
Welcome
your question
and feedback
Contact- Dr. Rakesh Gupta
E mail- rakeshgupta@psi.org.in