每年2月4日舉行的世界防癌日，今年的主題是由世界衛生組織所提出的警告，表示因抽煙及肥胖等病灶引起的疾病正巨幅的成長，且因而提高了全球的罹癌率，特別是在那些佔因癌症致死70%的中低收入國家。
在2005年，全世界有760萬人死於癌症。如果再不採取任何行動的話，世界衛生組織預估未來十年，將會有8億4千萬人死於癌症。
世衛組織提出一個世界性的目標計畫，在2006到2015年間，每年減少2%的慢性病患者。若達成這個目標，則在未來十年死於癌症的人數將會比預測的8,400萬人減少800萬人。世衛正加快進行的腳步以求達成目標。
「我們必須優先彌平已開發國家和開發中國家間在癌症預防、治療及照護上的巨大差異。」世衛非傳染病及心理衛生部門副主任蓋爾卡幕斯博士（Dr. Catherine Le Galès-Camus）說。
世衛表示，可預防的風險因子包括了「許多環境致癌因子」，另外，有40%的癌症相關疾病是可以靠健康飲食、運動和戒煙來預防。
世衛警告：「在市場的全球化及都市化影響下，提高了高脂、高糖、高鹽食物，以及菸草製品的消費；反而降低水果、蔬菜的消耗量，且人們減少活動，造成癌症及其他慢性病發生率大增。」
另外，世衛全球飲食、運動及健康計畫已提供了一套減少癌症和及他慢性疾病主要危險因子的方法。攝食過少的水果和蔬菜，估計每年造成2700萬人死亡。而且根據2002世界衛生報告，此為十大致死風險因子之首。
【好用連結】
- 有關癌症的事實及世衛癌症控制計畫：
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/en/
- 「與慢性病面對面」，是與癌症共處的病人的故事，著重慢性病迷思。
- 癌症控制計畫：
http://www.who.int/cancer/en/index.html
- 菸草控制框架公約（WHO The Framework Convention on Tobacco Control）
http://www.who.int/tobacco/en/
- 預防慢性病：一項必要的投資。世衛報告上線
- 全球飲食、運動及健康
http://www.who.int/dietphysicalactivity/en/
World Cancer Day on February 4 is marked this year by a warning from the World Health Organization that "dramatic increases in risk factors such as tobacco use and obesity" are contributing to a worldwide rise in cancer rates, particularly in low and middle income countries, where more than 70 percent of all cancer deaths occur.
Worldwide, 7.6 million people died of cancer in 2005 and 84 million people will die in the next 10 years if action is not taken, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates.
WHO has proposed a global goal of reducing death rates for all chronic diseases by two percent a year from 2006 to 2015. Achievement of this goal would avert over eight million of the projected 84 million deaths due to cancer in the next decade. WHO is stepping up its response to meet this target.
"We must, first and foremost, address the tremendous inequalities between developed and developing countries in terms of cancer prevention, treatment and care," said Dr. Catherine Le Galès-Camus, assistant director-general for noncommunicable diseases and mental health with the United Nations health agency.
Preventable risk factors include "many environmental carcinogens," says the UN health agency. In addition, 40 percent of cancer incidences can be prevented by a healthy diet, physical activity and not using tobacco.
"Globalization of markets and urbanization is leading to rising consumption of processed foods high in fats, sugars and salt, as well as tobacco products; declining consumption of fruit and vegetables; and more sedentary activity levels. As a consequence the incidence of cancer and other chronic diseases is increasing," WHO warns.
In addition, the WHO Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity and Health has provided an approach to reducing key risk factors for cancer and other chronic diseases. Low fruit and vegetable intake is estimated to cause some 2.7 million deaths each year, and was among the top 10 risk factors contributing to mortality, according to the World Health Report 2002.
Useful Links:
Facts about cancer and WHO's Cancer Control Strategy are available on: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/en/
"Face to face with chronic disease," stories of people living with cancer, highlighting the misunderstandings surround chronic disease available here.
Cancer Control Strategy at: http://www.who.int/cancer/en/index.html
WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control: http://www.who.int/tobacco/en/
Preventing Chronic Diseases: a vital investment, a WHO report online here.
The Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity and Health at: http://www.who.int/dietphysicalactivity/en/
作者
In my healing journey and learning to attain the breath awareness, I become aware of the reality that all the creatures of the world are breathing the same breath. Take action, here and now. From my physical being to the every corner of this out of balance's planet.
