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Current Issues
The International Union Against Cancer –
Global Cancer Control
a report by
Isabel Mortara
Executive Director, International Union Against Cancer (UICC)
Cancer is the second leading cause of worldwide mortality. Each year, more cavity is the most common. In Bangladesh and Pakistan, lung cancer is the
than 11 million new cases are diagnosed. Seven million of those diagnosed most common type of cancer. Table 1 shows the combined cancer incidence
will die from cancer, with over 70% of these cases occurring in low- and rates in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka in 2000. For women in
middle-income countries.
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In addition to the emotional and financial burden South Asia, the highest incidence of cancer is found in the following sites:
cancer places on families, the disease is costly for societies and threatens cervix, breast, oral cavity, ovary, oesophagus, colon, stomach, blood/bone
development, especially when it involves individuals who are economically marrow, thyroid and lung. Cancer of the cervix appears to be the most
active. The incidence of cancer is on the rise worldwide, reasons for which frequent form of cancer among the countries in South Asia, excluding
appear to vary from region to region. Increased physical inactivity, unhealthy Pakistan, where breast cancer is the leading cancer. Cancer of the oral cavity
diet and exposure to tobacco use are some of the causes of this increase. is the third most common cancer in Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka, ranking
Infections with viruses such as hepatitis B (HBV), which causes liver cancer, second in Pakistan. Among females, cancers of the breast, cervix and ovaries
and human papillomavirus (HPV), which causes cervical cancer, are contribute to approximately 50% of the total cancer incidence.
2
important risk factors for developing cancer in low- and middle-income
countries. In addition, at least 152,000 cancer deaths are linked to Dietary Prevention of Cancer
occupational carcinogens.
1
Over 40% of all deaths can be prevented by It is estimated that dietary risk factors contribute to 10–30% of cancer
appropriate changes in lifestyle and environement. Many millions of deaths deaths worldwide. Increased body fat is implicated as a cause of death from
due to cancer could be prevented if these cases were identified early and numerous non-communicable diseases.
2
However, not all the risk of cancer
treated effectively. This is particularly true of breast and cervical cancer. The is due to excess calories and fat. A deficiency in the intake of fibre and
technology for screening, diagnosing and treating these diseases is much nutrients such as vitamins and minerals contributes greatly to this risk.
more advanced, providing an opportunity to prevent the number of cancer Today, the processing of foods is a major contributor to the lack of
deaths from rising. The International Union Against Cancer (UICC) is an important nutrients in what we eat. A shift from a traditional diet rich in
international non-governmental organisation with almost 300 members, fruits, vegetable and fibres to a diet rich in energy and fats and low in
dedicated to the global control of cancer. It works to lead the worldwide protective nutrients has occurred during the last few decades. In addition,
cancer community in: sharing and exchanging knowledge and competence; over time a steady flow of carcinogens in foods has increased the
transferring scientific findings to clinical, patient and public settings; progression to certain cancers.
systematically reducing and eliminating disparities in prevention, early
detection and treatment; and delivering the best possible care to people Cervical Cancer
living with cancer throughout the world. The UICC focuses its work on four Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among women
strategic areas: cancer prevention and control; tobacco control; knowledge worldwide. It is caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). In an effort to
transfer; and capacity building and supportive care. provide a global comprehensive prevention strategy to stop cervical cancer,
the UICC has joined in a cervical cancer coalition with 11 other not-for-profit
Cancer Patterns in South Asia organisations. The aim of their campaign is to pair cervical cancer
In South Asia, many factors contribute to the rise in cancer rates, including vaccination with screening and treatment programmes with the aim of
tobacco use, dietary-linked matters, occupational cancers and infections. As reversing the worldwide threat of this type of cancer. For this campaign to
the world becomes more homogeneous, so does the rise in lifestyle-related be a success, the provision of access to life-saving technologies is a necessity.
cancers. The 10 most common cancers in South Asia for men are: lung, The UICC, along with members of the ‘Global Call to Stop Cervical Cancer’
stomach, prostate, leukaemia, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, oral cavity, larynx, group, call for the commitment and action necessary for women and girls
colon, oesophagus and pharynx. In India and Sri Lanka, cancer of the oral around the world to have equal access to high-quality prevention and
treatment options. To learn more, please read the UICC Cervical Cancer
Concept Paper (at www.uicc.org).
Isabel Mortara is Executive Director of the International
Union Against Cancer (UICC), the largest non-governmental
international organisation dedicated to all aspects of the Tobacco Control
worldwide fight against cancer. Mrs Mortara is actively
Worldwide, smoking is responsible for more than 80% of lung cancer cases
involved in the International Cancer Journal, the World
Cancer Congress, the Reach to Recovery International (RRI)
in men and 45% of those in women. According to the WHO, exposure to
Breast Cancer Conference and the World Cancer Awareness
tobacco smoke also increases the risk of lung cancer by 20% in non-
Building Campaigns. She received a joint Luther Terry Award
(2002) for the most innovative online community in 2002.
smokers. Cigarettes account for the largest share of manufactured tobacco
products in the world – 96% of total sales.
3
Five countries – China, the US,
E:
info@uicc.org
the Russian Federation, Japan and Indonesia – consume more than half of
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