DHAKA: Tuesday, February 4 is "World Cancer Day," a date when organizations and individuals around the world promote the message that ending cancer should be a global health priority.

For the fourth year in a row the Empire State Building will be lit blue and orange, the colors of the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC).

This year UICC, which organizes World Cancer Day, is focusing on dispelling damaging myths and misconceptions about cancer.

The organization says it wants to improve knowledge about cancer and debunk these four myths:

Myth 1: We don`t need to talk about cancer. Truth: While cancer can be a difficult topic to address, particularly in some cultures and settings, dealing with the disease openly can improve outcomes at an individual, community and policy level. The American Cancer Society has lots of pointers for talking about cancer, whether it`s with friends and family, your doctor, or others.

Myth 2: Cancer… There are no signs or symptoms. Truth: For many cancers, there are warning signs and symptoms and the benefits of early detection are indisputable.

Myth 3: There is nothing I can do about cancer. Truth: There is a lot that can be done at an individual, community and policy level, and with the right strategies, a third of the most common cancers can be prevented, according to the UICC. Avoiding tobacco, maintaining a healthy body weight, eating right and getting enough exercise, and getting appropriate cancer screening tests can all make a significant difference.

Myth 4: I don`t have the right to cancer care. Truth: All people have the right to access proven and effective cancer treatments and services on equal terms, and without suffering hardship as a consequence. The American Cancer Society is committed to fighting cancer worldwide. According to statistics from the World Health Organization`s International Agency for Research on Cancer, if current trends continue, new cancer cases will surge from 14.1 million in 2012 to 19.3 million by 2025.

Source: foxbaltimore.com
BDST: 1145 HRS, FEB 04, 2014