Cancer, the leading cause of death worldwide, can be avoided

The World Health Organization (WHO) in conjunction with the International Union against Cancer (UICC), organized on Thursday a global day against cancer under the slogan "Preventing cancer is possible."

Cancer is the leading cause of death worldwide, with each year more than 12 million new cases and 7.6 million deaths, said the UICC.

However 40% of cancers can be avoided by "simple measures" which include stopping smoking, limiting alcohol, avoiding too much sun exposure, keeping an average weight by eating healthily and making exercise, and finally protecting against infections that can develop into cancer.

According to the UICC, 20% of cancers diagnosed each year can indeed be attributed to viral or bacterial infections, such as those caused by HPV (which can lead to cancer of the cervix), the hepatitis B or C (which can lead to liver cancer), Epstein-Barr virus, which can lead to Burkitt's lymphoma, Helicobacter pylori, a bacterium linked to cancer of the stomach.

Incidence rates of cancers related to infection are particularly high in countries with low income (26% against 8% in high income countries). 80% of deaths due to cancer of the cervix occur in developing countries.

Overall, moreover, these countries are particularly affected because they have more than half of new cases and over 60% of cancer deaths, with access to care and prevention very limited. The survival rate for breast cancer is 12% in the Gambia against 80% in South Korea.

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