World Cancer Day 2015: Not Beyond Us

February 3, 2015 Damarise Navarro, MPH

World Cancer Day is an initiative created to give the entire world an opportunity to fight against the cancer epidemic together. 

Cancer is the uncontrollable growth and spread of cells.  The cancerous cells originate in one area and have the potential to invade surrounding tissue and can metastasize/spread to other sites through the blood and lymph system. There are different types of cancers such as carcinoma, sarcoma, leukemia, lymphoma, multiple myeloma, and the central nervous system. Avoiding common risk factors such as smoking can help reduce the risk of developing cancer.  Based on the time of diagnosis, cancer may be treated using surgery, chemotherapy or radiation.

World Cancer Day occurs the 4th of every February. The primary goal is to significantly reduce the illness and death caused by cancer.  In order to prevent the loss of millions of lives, this initiative aims to raise awareness and education about cancer as well as motivating government entities and individuals to take a stance against the disease.

The theme for this year’s World Cancer Day is titled “Not Beyond Us”.  There are four methods that are being focused on in order to work towards meeting the goal of reducing the global negative impact of cancer.   The first is the early detection of cancerous cells in an individual. The second component focuses on helping meet their goal to have treatment equally accessible to all.  The third is to improve the quality of life of those individuals impacted by cancer by maximizing their emotional, mental, and physical wellbeing.  The final component is to empower all people to make healthier choices and reduce social and environmental risk factors.   

There are multiple ways in which individuals can take part in helping the World Cancer Day initiative meet its goal of reducing the negative impact of cancer on the world.  You can speak with your primary care provider and learn more about how to eat healthy, becoming physically active, how to stop smoking, how to protect yourself from the sun, as well as other ways in which to protect yourself.  Another very important manner in which you can participate in World Cancer Day 2015 is scheduling an appointment for a cancer screening.

The Swedish Cancer Institute offers the following cancer screenings:

  • Colonoscopy ( Colon Cancer)
  • Clinical Breast Exam or Mammogram (Breast Cancer)
  • Pap Smear (Cervical Cancer )
  • PSA Screening (Prostate Cancer)  
  • Thyroid Ultrasound (Thyroid Cancer Screening)
  • Skin Checks (Skin Cancer Screening)
  • Low-Dose CT (Lung Cancer Screening)

For more information about World Cancer Day 2015: Not Beyond Us, click here.
To learn more and be connected to a care team for screening at Swedish, please call 1-855-XCANCER.

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