February 4th marks World Cancer Day, with this date aiming to unite the population to face one of the biggest public health challenges! Raise awareness, improve education and promote personal and collective action in the fight against cancer. World Cancer Day is an initiative of the International Union for Cancer Control (UICC), of which the Portuguese League Against Cancer (LPCC) has been a member since 1983.
Around 10 million people die annually, and every year the incidence of cancer tends to increase throughout the world. Experts estimate that by 2030, deaths from cancer could reach 13 million people. However, more than a third of cases can be prevented, another third can be cured if they are detected at an early stage and treated appropriately.
If appropriate strategies, resources for prevention, early detection and treatment are implemented, up to 3.7 million lives can be saved every year. But, despite these advances, there are many barriers and difficulties, such as: economic, educational, geographic or even social status difficulties.