World Cancer Day 2019 brings alarming statistics, check sign and symptoms to prevent life threatening illness

World Cancer Day 2019: The day is dedicated to everyone in the world fighting cancer, undergoing chemotherapy and even for the caregivers.

World Cancer Day is an international day to mark cancer awareness across the world and to encourage its prevention, detection, and treatment.

World Cancer Day 2019: World Cancer Day is an international day to mark cancer awareness across the world and to encourage its prevention, detection, and treatment. It is a global event that is observed on February 4 every year. It is dedicated to everyone fighting cancer, undergoing chemotherapy and even for the caregivers. The day was founded by the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) to support the goals of the World Cancer Declaration, written in 2008. The primary motive of World Cancer Day is to significantly reduce illness and death caused by cancer. It is been looked like an opportunity to rally the international community to end the injustice of preventable suffering from cancer. Scientists and experts all across the globe are trying to eradicate the disease and working towards the cure of cancer. India too is observing World Cancer Day today with global experts calling for action with the theme - 'I am and I will' on early detection of the disease to significantly improve patient survival. As per the report by worldcancerday.org, 9.6 million people die each year from cancer. That’s more than HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis combined. By 2030, experts project cancer deaths to rise to 13 million. Cancer is the second-leading cause of death worldwide. Today, more than half (65%) of cancer deaths are happening in the least developed parts of the world. However, equal access to cancer prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care can save lives. Through raising the public and political literacy and understanding around cancer, we reduce fear, increase understanding, dispel myths and misconceptions, and change behaviours and attitudes.

Signs and Symptoms

With so many different types of cancers, the symptoms are varied and depend on where the disease is located. However, according to the American Cancer Society, there are some key signs and symptoms to look out for, including: Unusual lumps or swelling Unusual breast changes A new mole or changes to a mole Coughing, breathlessness or difficulty swallowing Changes in bowel habit. If you find signs such as constipation and diarrhoea and/or blood found in the stools Fatigue Unexpected bleeding. This includes bleeding from the vagina, or blood found in stools, anal passage, in urine or when coughing Complications with urinating Pain or ache. This includes unexplained or ongoing pain, or pain that comes and goes Appetite loss Unexplained weight loss A sore or ulcer that won’t heal Heartburn or indigestion Heavy night sweats