National Cancer Awareness Day

Why in the news?

• National Cancer Awareness Day is celebrated on 7 November.
• Its objective:
  • To make people aware about the symptoms, causes and treatment of cancer
  • To reduce the fear of cancer
  • To motivate people to get timely checkups
• The theme of National Cancer Awareness Day 2024 is- 'Improving access to cancer prevention, early detection and treatment'.
• The main reason for celebrating Cancer Awareness Day on 7 November is-
  • This day is the birthday of Nobel Prize winning scientist Madame Curie.
  • Madame Curie made an important contribution in fighting cancer.

What is cancer (according to WHO):

• Cancer is a large group of diseases, which can start in almost any organ or tissue of the body.
• In this, cells grow uncontrollably and go beyond normal limits and invade the surrounding parts of the body.
• Cancer is the second leading cause of death worldwide.
• Globally, 1 in 6 deaths are caused by cancer.

Major symptoms of cancer:

• Rapid weight loss
• Abnormal pain
• Persistent cough
• Hemorrhage (bleeding)
• Formation of lumps; etc.

Treatments for cancer:

• Treatment is selected based on the type of cancer and its stage.
• In some cases, a combination of treatments may be used; which include-
  • Surgery
  • Chemotherapy
  • Radiation therapy
  • Immunotherapy

Most common types of cancer in India:

• Breast cancer
• Oral cancer
• Lung cancer
• Throat cancer; etc.

Measures to prevent cancer:

• Healthy diet
• Regular exercise
• Avoid tobacco-alcohol
• Regular checkups from time to time; etc.