World Cancer Day, 2023

Dr Sumedha Kushwaha *

World Cancer Day, observed annually on February 4th, is a global initiative aimed at raising awareness and promoting education about cancer. For three years – 2022, 2023 and 2024 – the theme of World Cancer Day is decided to be "Close The Care Gap".

This multi-year campaign is all about understanding and recognising the inequities in cancer care around the globe. The theme revolves around identifying and recognising global disparities in cancer care, that prevent people from certain economic strata from full access to essential healthcare services and facilities. Inequity in cancer care costs lives.

Cancer is a global health crisis, affecting millions of people around the world. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), cancer is the second leading cause of death globally, accounting for an estimated 9.6 million deaths in 2018. The burden of cancer is projected to increase in the coming decades, with an estimated 14 million new cases annually by 2040.

To address this global challenge, it is essential to increase awareness and understanding of cancer, and to promote cancer prevention and early detection strategies. One of the key ways to prevent cancer is to make healthy lifestyle choices, such as maintaining a healthy diet, getting regular physical activity, avoiding tobacco use, and limiting alcohol consumption.

In addition to promoting healthy lifestyle choices, early detection and diagnosis of cancer are critical in improving outcomes and reducing the burden of the disease. Regular cancer screening tests, such as mammograms, pap tests, and colonoscopies, can help detect cancer at an early stage, when it is often more treatable.

In addition to individual action, governments and organizations also play a critical role in addressing the cancer epidemic. They can support cancer research and development of new treatments, invest in public health programs to promote cancer prevention and early detection, and work to improve access to quality cancer care for all people, regardless of where they live.

One of the most promising developments in the fight against cancer is the increasing focus on personalized medicine, which involves tailoring treatment to the individual characteristics of each patient's cancer. This approach has the potential to improve treatment outcomes and reduce the side effects associated with traditional cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy and radiation.

Another important aspect of addressing the cancer epidemic is improving access to cancer care and treatment. In many parts of the world, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, access to quality cancer care remains a major challenge, due to a lack of resources and trained healthcare professionals. This leads to delayed diagnoses and treatments, and often results in poorer outcomes for patients.

To address these challenges and improve access to cancer care, governments and organizations must work together to strengthen healthcare systems, invest in training and education for healthcare professionals, and increase funding for cancer research and treatment.

In conclusion, World Cancer Day provides an opportunity for individuals, governments, and organizations to come together to raise awareness and take action against cancer. By promoting healthy lifestyle choices, early detection and diagnosis, personalized medicine, and improved access to cancer care, we can work towards a future where cancer is no longer a leading cause of death and disability.