World Cancer Day is every day

Edited by Maria Perno Goldie, RDH, MS

I am sure each of you reading this knows at least one person with cancer. World Cancer Day was February 4, 2013, and focused on Target 5 of the World Cancer Declaration: Dispel damaging myths and misconceptions about cancer, under the tagline “Cancer - Did you know?”. World Cancer Day was a chance to raise our collective voices in the name of improving general knowledge around cancer and dismissing misconceptions about the disease. But we can do this all year round! From a global level, the focus is on messaging on the four myths about cancer. In addition to being in-line with global advocacy goals, these overarching myths leave a lot of flexibility for members, partners and supporters to adapt and expand on for their own needs.

World Cancer Day is an annual event led by the Union for International Cancer Control that aims to improve general knowledge around cancer and dismissing misconceptions about the disease. The organization announced in January that preventive measures could reduce 1.5 million deaths per year caused by cancer.(1)

According to new data released by the American Institute for Cancer Research, fewer Americans than ever realize of factors that increase cancer risk, including alcohol, obesity, lack of physical activity and poor diets.

The information, from the Institute’s Cancer Risk Awareness Survey, found that a high percentage of over 1,000 respondents selected cancer-risk factors including tobacco use (92 percent) and sun exposure (84 percent). Most failed to identify other risk factors, with only:

• 43 percent indicating that diets low in vegetables and fruit increase cancer risk;
• 38 percent indicating that alcohol increases risk; and
• 36 percent indicating that lack of physical activity increases risk.(1)

“One of the most persistent and widely-held myths is that cancer is just ‘bad luck’ or ‘fate,’” said Marilyn Gentry, president of the World Cancer Research Fund Global Network.(2) “The truth, however, is that about a third of the most common cancers could be prevented through sticking to a healthy diet, being physically active and managing our body weight. Prevention is by far the most cost-effective and sustainable way of reducing the cancer burden.”(2)

There is good news, as well. According to statistics from the American Cancer Society, rates of deaths caused by all forms of cancer in the U.S. have fallen 20 percent from 1991.(3) And between 2000 and 2009, cancer death rates have decreased by 1.8 percent per year among men and by 1.4 percent per year among women.(4) However, the data show increases in death rates for skin, liver, pancreatic and uterine cancers.

The Annual Report to the Nation on the Status of Cancer, 1975–2009, Featuring the Burden and Trends in HPV-Associated Cancers and HPV Vaccination Coverage Levels provides a regular update of cancer incidence (new cases) and mortality (death) rates and trends in these rates in the United States.

The American Cancer Society (ACS), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the National Cancer Institute (NCI), part of the National Institutes of Health, and the North American Association of Central Cancer Registries (NAACCR) have collaborated since 1998 to create the Annual Report to the Nation on the Status of Cancer. The special feature section of this year’s report highlights the burden and trends in human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated cancers as well as HPV vaccination coverage levels among adolescent girls.(3)

(4) From 2000 through 2009, incidence rates for all cancers combined declined 0.6 percent per year among men and were stable among women, and increased by 0.6 percent per year among children 14 years and under (see Table 1 of the Report).(5) Declines in cancer mortality rates are good news, but the same is not always true for incidence rates. Declines in cancer incidence rates that occur as a result of decreased modifiable risk factors or increased use of those screening tests (colorectal and cervical cancer screening) that allow the detection and removal of precancerous lesions are good news. However, a drop in screening rates can also make it appear that incidence rates are lower while in fact some cancers will not be detected early and may not be discovered until they are at a more advanced stage.(3) Fact sheets have been developed to provide a general overview of some of the myths and misconceptions that surround cancer.(6) For World Cancer Day 2013, the focus is on four key myths and "debunking" them through the fact sheets and their supporting evidence sheets. The fact sheets provide key facts and figures, as well as important advocacy messages. For a more detailed look at the issues addressed in the fact sheets, including a reference list for each of the facts and figures used, you can download and consult the Evidence sheets. The Evidence sheets and Fact sheets are available in: Brazilian Portuguese; Portuguese; French; Spanish; and Arabic. Fact sheets are available in Turkish, Farsi, and Hindi.(6) • Myth 1 - Cancer is just a health issue • Myth 2 - Cancer is a disease of the wealthy, elderly and developed countries • Myth 3 - Cancer is a death sentence • Myth 4 - Cancer is my fateRemember, investing in prevention and early detection of cancer is cheaper than dealing with the consequences.(7) As oral health care professionals, we have the privilege of educating numerous people on a daily basis. Let’s talk about prevention!