Yesterday, February 4th, was World Cancer Day. World Cancer Day is “…when organizations and individuals around the world unite to raise awareness about cancer and work to make it a global health priority. This year, it’s estimated that nearly 8 million people worldwide will die from cancer.” (1)
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) state that, “Cancer is the second leading cause of death among Native Americans and Alaska Natives.” The CDC also provides that although Native Americans and Alaska Natives tend to get most types of cancer at lower rates than other groups, certain rates of cancer are higher, specifically stomach, liver, cervix, kidney, and gallbladder. (2)
The American Cancer Society provides actions that individuals and communities can take to help to try and reduce cancer, which include:
- Individuals can
- Make healthy lifestyle choices that include avoiding tobacco, getting plenty of physical activity, eating a healthy diet, limiting alcohol, and staying safe in the sun.
- Know about signs and symptoms of cancer and early detection guidelines because finding cancer early often makes it easier to treat.
- Support cancer patients and survivors with the physical and emotional impacts of cancer even after treatment ends.
- Share stories about their own cancer experiences, communicate with decision-makers, and join support groups to help make positive change for all people affected by cancer.
- When possible, return to work after cancer treatment to restore normality, routine, stability, social contact, and income.
- Communities can
- Call on governments to commit adequate resources to reduce cancer deaths and provide a better quality of life for patients and survivors.
- Educate people about the link between lifestyle behaviors – including smoking, poor diet, and lack of physical activity – and cancer risk.
- Dispel myths that lead to stigma and discrimination against people with cancer in some communities.
- Encourage schools and workplaces to implement nutrition and physical activity policies that can help people to adopt healthy habits for life.
- Improve access to affordable cancer health care for all populations. (1)
For more information on World Cancer Day visit www.cancer.org/latest-news/world-cancer-day-2018.html.
Sources
- American Cancer Society. (2018, February 1). World Cancer Day 2018: We can. I can. Retrieved February 05, 2018, from https://www.cancer.org/latest-news/world-cancer-day-2018.html
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2017, November 27). Health Disparities in Cancer. Retrieved February 05, 2018, from https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/healthdisparities/what_cdc_is_doing/aian_faq.htm
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