World Cancer Day, 4 February 2007 Marks Launch of World Cancer Campaign

World Cancer Day, 4 February 2007 Marks Launch of World Cancer Campaign

January 31, 2007

Messages offer healthy lessons parents can share with their
children


    GENEVA, 30 Jan. /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- It is an amazing
statistic: 43 percent of cancer cases can be prevented
through healthy lifestyles established in childhood. The
World Cancer Campaign - "Today's Children, Tomorrow's
World" - underscores prevention by sharing knowledge
about lifestyle behaviours.

    (Photo:  
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070130/CLTU006 )

    The International Union Against Cancer (UICC) - a
Geneva-based NGO - and member organisations in 86 countries
will launch the campaign on World Cancer Day. Targeting
parents, health-care professionals and policymakers, the
campaign presents a common theme: fostering healthy habits
during childhood can help prevent cancer later in life.
(campaign.uicc.org)

    The World Cancer Campaign four key messages are:

    - Provide a smoke-free environment for children 
    - Be physically active, eat a healthy diet, and avoid
obesity
    - Learn about vaccines for virus-related liver and
cervical cancers
    - Avoid over-exposure to the sun 

    More than seven million people die from cancer and
close to 11 million new cases are diagnosed every year.  In
2006, cancer killed more people than AIDS, malaria and
tuberculosis combined. (facts.uicc.org)

    "Cancer strikes all segments of society in every
country. The good news is cancer is largely
preventable," says Isabel Mortara, UICC executive
director. "The first steps toward prevention are
education and action. That needs to start with
children."

    In addition to targeting individuals, the World Cancer
Campaign encourages policy decision-makers to put cancer on
the public agenda. 

    "Cancer control can only be effective if given
priority at the highest decision-making levels. Complacency
and inaction on the part of the world community will
effectively contribute to more than 10 million deaths every
year by 2020," says Dr Franco Cavalli, UICC president.

    Former United States First Lady Barbara Bush, Her Royal
Highness Lalla Salma of Morocco, Nigerian President Olusegun
Obasanjo, and tennis star Steffi Graf are among those
lending their voices to the World Cancer Campaign with
encouragement for those touched by cancer.
(voices.uicc.org)

    The UICC is a global resource for action with more than
270 member organisations in Africa, The Americas,
Asia-Pacific, Europe,  and the Middle East. (
http:///members.uicc.org .)
 
    /NOTE TO EDITORS: Artwork is available at (
http://artwork.uicc.org )/ 


    For more information, please contact:

    Europe, Middle East & Africa: 

     J.J. Divino 
     International Union Against Cancer

     Geneva, 
     Tel:   [phone]
     Email: [e-mail]

    Americas & Asia-Pacific: 

     Washington 
     Tel:   [phone]

     Mexico City 
     Tel:   [phone]
     Email: [e-mail]


SOURCE  International Union Against Cancer (UICC)