Every year since 2000, on February 4 people are marking World Cancer Day, an international day aiming to raise awareness of cancer and encourage its prevention, detection, and treatment. The event also aims at informing people about the oncological problem, promoting the newest and most effective methods to fight this disease. Cancer kills annually 9.6 million people, while in Moldova the disease is responsible for 83,739 deaths each year. 

Annually cancer causes over 9.6 million deaths globally. According to the data presented by the National Agency for Public Health, the global cancer epidemic is rising, being the second leading cause of death globally. 

The types of cancer responsible for the biggest number of deaths per year are lung cancer – 1.76 million deaths, colon cancer – 862,000 deaths, stomach cancer – 783,000 deaths, liver cancer – 782,000 deaths and breast cancer – 627,000 deaths. 

By 2030, experts estimate that cancer deaths will increase to over 13 million per year. That means more than HIV / AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis together.

In Moldova, oncological diseases are the second leading cause of mortality in the country, after cardiovascular diseases, being a priority problem for the health system. 

According to statistical data, in 2018, there were 83,739 cancer patients, compared to 81,382 patients in 2017. In 2018, a primary cancer diagnosis was established in 15,721 people.

The main factors responsible for increasing the risk of cancer development are tobacco consumption, unhealthy eating and lack of physical activity, overweight and obesity, harmful alcohol consumption, pollution.

Tobacco consumption is the most important risk factor causing over 20 percent of cancer deaths worldwide and about 70 percent of global lung cancer deaths.

In Moldova, smoking is one of the most widespread vices, damaging the health of the population. Smoking is on the second place as a risk factor for men and on the fifth for women, causing over 10 percent of the total deaths recorded by non-communicable diseases.

Nutritional risk factors, such as excessive consumption of saturated fat and trans fats, sugar and salt, reduced consumption of fruits and vegetables, as well as harmful alcohol consumption and physical inactivity, are responsible for more than 30 percent of deaths caused by cancer of the digestive system, breast, and prostate.

The doctors give several recommendations for the population on cancer prevention.

• Maintain body weight within normal limits throughout life.
• Adopt a lifestyle that includes at least 30 minutes of physical activity each day.
• To limit the consumption of foods high in fat and low in fiber. Avoid sugary sweetened beverages.
• To consume many fruits, vegetables, and cereals.
• Limit the consumption of red meat and avoid processed meat.
• To limit the consumption of alcoholic beverages.
• Limit salt and processed foods.
• Don’t smoke, and avoid exposure to cigarette smoke.
• Avoid prolonged exposure to ultraviolet rays.
• At work, follow the instructions on occupational safety and health to protect against carcinogens.

World Cancer Day is led by the Union for International Cancer Control to support the goals of the World Cancer Declaration, written in 2008. 

The primary goal of World Cancer Day is to significantly reduce illness and death caused by cancer and is an opportunity to rally the international community to end the injustice of preventable suffering from cancer. 

The theme for World Cancer Day 2020 is I Am and I Will, to acknowledge that everyone has the capacity to act in the face of cancer, and aims to reduce the number of premature deaths caused by cancer by one third, by 2030.