National Cancer Awareness Day is observed every year on 7th November in India. National Cancer Awareness Day is observed to create awareness about early detection of the cancer disease and cancer prevention among the general public.
Originally it was initiated in 1975, the National Cancer Control Programme aims to provide cancer treatment facilities in India. Cancer is one of the deadliest diseases fighting which requires a lifetime of courage and sacrifice.
History of the event
Announced by the then Indian Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Dr. Harsh Vardhan in September 2014, National Cancer Awareness Day is being observed since then 7th November.
It must be noted that National Cancer Awareness Day coincides with the birth anniversary of the Nobel-prize winner Madame Curie. A scientist born in Warsaw, Poland in 1867, Madame Curie discovered radium and polonium, and her huge contribution in fighting cancer.
Nobel Prize-winning Curie’s work led to the development of nuclear energy radiotherapy that helped in the treatment of cancer.
What is the significance of National Cancer day?
It must be noted that India reports around 1.1 million new cancer cases annually, and two-thirds of the cancer cases are usually diagnosed when the disease reaches an advanced stage, thereby reducing the chances of a patient’s survival.
In modern times, with the advancement of technology cancer treatments have also been more advanced, however, there are people in our country who still die of lack of treatment. National Cancer Awareness is observed every year to spread cancer awareness.
What is Cancer?
Cancer is a disease that spread to other parts of the body and the body’s cells grow uncontrollably. Cancer starts almost anywhere in the human body which is made up of trillions of cells.
Cancer can start almost anywhere in the human body, which is made up of trillions of cells. Tobacco use, alcohol use, unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, and air pollution are risk factors for cancer (and other non-communicable diseases).
Some chronic infections are risk factors for cancer; this is a particular issue in low- and middle-income countries.
Approximately 13% of cancers diagnosed in 2018 globally were attributed to carcinogenic infections, including Helicobacter pylori, human papillomavirus (HPV), hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, and Epstein-Barr virus (3).
How does Cancer grow?
Normally, human cells grow and multiply to form new cells as the body needs them. When cells grow old or become damaged, they die, and new cells take their place.
Sometimes this orderly process breaks down, and abnormal or damaged cells grow and multiply when they shouldn’t. These cells may form tumors, which are lumps of tissue. Tumors can be cancerous or not cancerous called benign.
Types of Cancer
Cancerous tumors spread into, or invade nearby tissues and can travel to distant places in the body to form new tumors called metastasis.
Cancerous tumors may also be called malignant tumors. Many cancers form solid tumors, but cancers of the blood, such as leukemias, generally do not.
Benign tumors do not spread into, or invade nearby tissues. When removed, benign tumors usually don’t grow back, whereas cancerous tumors sometimes do.
Benign tumors can sometimes be quite large, however. Some can cause serious symptoms or be life-threatening, such as benign tumors in the brain.
Is there any prevention of cancer?
Between 30 and 50% of cancers can currently be prevented by avoiding risk factors and implementing existing evidence-based prevention strategies.
The cancer burden can also be reduced through early detection of cancer and appropriate treatment and care of patients who develop cancer. Many cancers have a high chance of being cured if diagnosed early and treated appropriately.