According to the World Health Organization, cancer is one of the leading causes of death in the world. More details about this ailment can be found in this article.
A bit of history
The World Health Organization announced that over a ten-year period from 2005 to 2015, about 84 million people worldwide died from cancer. To prevent this from happening further, it is necessary to take emergency measures.
When did the holiday, World Cancer Day, come about? Since 2005, around the world began to celebrate this date, led by the International Union, against this ailment that brings so much trouble and grief to the families of people.
Cancer Day motive
The recognition of cancer in the initial stages gives great guarantees for a person's recovery. Every year on February 4 celebrate the Day of the fight against cancer - various oncological diseases. The World Health Organization is doing its utmost to assist the International Union in promoting various ways to combat this dangerous disease. The main topics of this day are preventative measures and improving the standard of living of patients. What other goals does World Cancer Day pursue? It:
- Attraction of attention of the world community.
- Raising public awareness of cancer as one of the worst diseases of modern civilization.
- Emphasis on prevention, initial detection and treatment of cancer.
- A reminder of how dangerous and common cancers are.
What is cancer?
Cancer is a malignant tumor that can affect any part of the body. Their number is huge, there are about 100 of such ailments. Sometimes a term such as neoplasms is used to designate them. A characteristic feature of cancer is that abnormal cells form very quickly that grow outside their borders and can penetrate nearby human tissues or organs. Secondary foci are called metastases. They are the cause of deaths. You can find out this information about cancer when you celebrate a holiday - Cancer Day, and much more. Each year, this campaign is held under various mottos and slogans. For example, in 2015, a rally “Cancer. Not far from us". The aim of this event was to stimulate positive achievements in the field of cancer treatment, to inform the population about the favorable outcomes of cancer treatment and prevention.
Key Cancer Factors
The main causes of cancer are:
- Chemical carcinogens: tobacco smoke, asbestos, water and food contaminants.
- Physical factors are two types of radiation (ultraviolet and ionizing).
- Biological carcinogens are viruses, bacteria, parasites.
With age, the risk of getting cancer increases. The main factors of occurrence
of this disease are:
- Smoking.
- Alcohol.
- Weak physical activity.
- Unbalanced diet.
- Chronic fatigue, stress.
- Infections that are caused by hepatitis B and C viruses, they contribute to the development of cervical and liver cancer.
It is important to know that vaccination against the above viruses is currently underway. When World Cancer Day passes, you can see such slogans: “No to smoking”, “Protect children from tobacco smoke”, etc.
How is Cancer Day spent?
In early February, Cancer Day is held every year. On this day, various thematic seminars, conferences, meetings for top and middle level medical workers on cancer issues, disease prevention, etc. are organized . Open days are also held at oncology dispensaries and medical centers with consultations of specialists: cardiologists, endocrinologists, urologists, gynecologists. February 4, in addition to consulting with specialists, you can measure blood pressure, find out the level of cholesterol, Quetelet index , etc. On the day of the fight against cancer, patients are invited for a preventive, screening examination. Round tables are being convened with the involvement of public figures in the discussion of cancer prevention and treatment. Large-scale campaigns are held in places of mass congestion: at train stations, supermarkets, enterprises, etc., where various booklets, leaflets and memos on the prevention of cancer and the formation of attitudes to an active lifestyle are distributed. Hospitals and institutions organize various exhibitions and stands with visual agitation on this topic. All information must be covered in local media: on the radio, in the press, on television and on the Internet, as they spend the Cancer Day holiday there too.
Possible symptoms of cancer
With competent cancer prevention, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, the risk of getting cancer is reduced. On World Cancer Day (the history of the holiday dates back to 2005), the goals are to increase awareness of the symptoms of cancer among the population and medical staff. Signs of illness include:
- Fatigue and unmotivated fatigue.
- High temperature for a long time.
- Various seals under the skin, on the skin, in the groin, in the area of the mammary glands, in the armpit.
- Enlarged lymph nodes.
- Various impurities in urine and feces: blood, mucus, pus.
- Prolonged pain in various organs.
- Change in timbre of voice, chronic cough.
- Non-healing wounds and ulcers.
- Fast weight loss for no reason.
If such symptoms appear, you should consult a doctor as soon as possible.
Screening studies
Such tests are done for the early diagnosis of malignant neoplasms. It should be noted that screening is not a mandatory procedure, but in order to prevent cancer, it is advisable to undergo this examination, especially since when World Cancer Day is held, this can be done for free. Screening studies:
- For women over 20, it is recommended to take a PAP test for cervical cancer.
- Mammography - recommended for women over 40 for early diagnosis of breast cancer .
- Colonoscopy - reveals colorectal cancer, desirable for men and women from 50 years old.
- A PSA test is done to detect prostate tumors. Recommended for men from 50 years.
Clinical examination of the population
Currently, as part of the state program for the provision of free medical services, a medical examination of the entire adult population of the Russian Federation is being conducted. The main goal is the implementation of a set of measures aimed at improving people's health, preventing diseases, preventing early mortality, and increasing life expectancy. The clinical examination and World Cancer Day have one important goal - the early detection of oncology. Cancer Day organizers expect this action to draw the attention of a large number of people to the problems of oncology and dispel some myths about this disease.