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The International Union Against Cancer – Global Cancer Control
the world’s cigarettes. Approximately 1,800 billion cigarettes are consumed
Table 1: Combined Cancer Incidence Rates in South Asia, 2000
2
in China each year, with Japan accounting for 312 billion annually.
3
Second-
hand smoke has been conclusively shown to harm the health of children.
Country Male Female
Two of the main challenges to ending this activity appear to be a lack of
India 73.9 87
public awareness of these hazards and well-financed opposition by tobacco
Pakistan 76.3 99.1
Bangladesh 60.5 70
companies to oppose smoke-free laws. Tobacco companies collaborate with
Sri Lanka 89.8 102.8
the restaurant and hospitality industry in their efforts to overturn existing
South Asia 75.1 89.7
legislation. In some countries, the tobacco industry uses the court system to
Crude incidence rate per 100,000.
challenge the legality of smoke-free laws and support state laws that pre-
empt local smoke-free laws. Tobacco companies have also denied that standardised diagnosis and treatment and improved palliative care and
adverse health affects are caused by second-hand smoke and have sought rehabilitation. The Tianjin Declaration has proved to be a useful framework
to undermine the smoke-free case by calling the scientific evidence into to set up effective interventions, in collaboration with health authorities.
question and by sponsoring research of their own.
4
Controlling tobacco use
is a complex and challenging task. Strategies needed include health World Cancer Campaign
education, increasing tax on tobacco products, clean-air policies, tobacco The World Cancer Campaign for 2007–2012 entitled ‘Today’s Children,
advertising bans and control of illegal trade. The WHO Framework Tomorrow’s World’ employs a strong focus on lifestyle change in children
Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) is the world’s first public-health and their families as a way to prevent cancer. The aim is to raise awareness
treaty. The treaty came into force in February 2005. It has been signed by of simple lifestyle changes that can prevent disease and encourage
168 countries and by September 2007 had been ratified by 151 countries behaviour change. The four main messages espoused in this campaign
(see www.who.int/tobacco). The UICC continues to work with the treaty include: providing a smoke-free environment; encouraging an energy-
parties with the goal of increasing the number of countries applying the balanced lifestyle based on adequate physical activity and healthy eating
strategies outlined in the FCTC. habits; learning the facts about specific vaccinations that provide protection
against certain cancers; and teaching children to be sun-smart and avoid
Knowledge Transfer excess ultraviolet (UV) exposure. The fourth of February each year has been
Knowledge transfer at the UICC includes the international cancer designated as World Cancer Day. The goal of the global media campaign
fellowships programme as well as the tumour, lymph nodes and metastasis that surrounds the day is to raise public awareness in order to modify
(TNM) prognostic factors project. Fellowships provide opportunities for behaviour. The theme for World Cancer Day in 2009 is ‘I love my healthy
professional development for cancer investigators, clinicians, cancer nurses active childhood’ and the message to parents and policy-makers is
and cancer society staff and volunteers. Each year 200 fellowships are ‘Overweight, obesity can lead to cancer. Help children to maintain a healthy
awarded for advancing, transferring and disseminating knowledge about body weight by balancing energy intake (low-calorie food and drink) and
cancer from those who are knowledgeable to those who are eager to learn. energy output (physical activity).’ Public service announcements in multiple
To find out more about fellowships and grant possibilities in your area, languages, press releases, news briefings and media events are all part of
please visit www.uicc.org/fellowships. The UICC’s TNM Prognostic Factors this worldwide campaign to educate the public on the options that exist.
project has the responsibility of promoting and disseminating cancer staging The UICC carries out this campaign with its member organisations and other
worldwide. Experts support the project by appraising literature and health institutions worldwide.
producing transferable knowledge. In 2006, the third edition of Prognostic
Factors in Cancer was published, which has been acknowledged as the only World Cancer Congress
textbook focusing on the clinical methodology for evaluating prognostic The latest World Cancer Congress was held in Geneva in August 2008. Over
factors. The seventh edition of the TNM Classification of Malignant Tumours 3,000 participants from more than 120 countries met, networked,
is scheduled for publication in 2009. exchanged ideas and learned from leading experts in cancer control. The
programme revolved around five tracks: prevention, treatment, tobacco
Capacity Building and Supportive Care control, patient advocacy and palliative care. The congress endorsed the
The UICC endeavours to increase the efficacy of member organisations by World Cancer Declaration 2008, which represents a consensus between
helping them to mobilise resources and take advantage of the potential in foundations, national and international non-governmental and
their communities. The UICC promotes fund-raising capacities, advocacy governmental organisations, professional bodies, the private sector,
and communication skills, as well as the ability to participate in strategic academia and civil society and is a tool to help cancer advocates bring the
alliances and cancer control planning. It helps new organisations get started, growing cancer crisis to the attention of health policy-makers. As the leading
young organisations to strengthen and mature organisations to make the public health congress on cancer, the biennial World Cancer Congress is an
most of their impact. In response to the rising incidence of cancer in China, opportunity to measure progress made on the different fronts of the global
the Tianjin Declaration, modelled after the World Cancer Declaration fight against cancer, as well as to evaluate, prioritise and develop plans to
adopted in 2006, has been developed by UICC member organisations there. address ongoing and emerging threats. The Congress is next scheduled to
To advance cancer control, several actions will be promoted including: meet in Beijing in August 2010. For more information regarding the
improved data collection and reporting, health education, better screening, congress, please visit www.worldcancercongress.org ■
1. World Health Organization, 2007. American Cancer Society, 2006. Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, National Centre for
2. Cancer Awareness, Prevention and Control: Strategies for South 4. US DHHS, The Health Consequences of Involuntary Exposure to Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Office On
Asia, A UICC Handbook, 2006 Tobacco Smoke: A Report of the Surgeon General, Rockville, Smoking and Health, 2006.
3. Mackey J, Erikson M, Shafey O, The Tobacco Atlas, 2nd Edition, Maryland: US Department of Health and Human Services,
ASIA-PACIFIC ONCOLOGY & HAEMATOLOGY 17
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