World Cancer Day, 4 February 2007 Marks Launch of World Cancer Campaign

Messages offer healthy lessons parents can share with their children

GENEVA, 30 Jan. /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- It is an amazing statistic: 43 percent of cancer cases can be prevented through healthy lifestyles established in childhood. The World Cancer Campaign - "Today’s Children, Tomorrow’s World" - underscores prevention by sharing knowledge about lifestyle behaviours.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070130/CLTU006 )

The International Union Against Cancer (UICC) - a Geneva-based NGO - and member organisations in 86 countries will launch the campaign on World Cancer Day. Targeting parents, health-care professionals and policymakers, the campaign presents a common theme: fostering healthy habits during childhood can help prevent cancer later in life. (campaign.uicc.org)

The World Cancer Campaign four key messages are:

- Provide a smoke-free environment for children

- Be physically active, eat a healthy diet, and avoid obesity

- Learn about vaccines for virus-related liver and cervical cancers

- Avoid over-exposure to the sun

More than seven million people die from cancer and close to 11 million new cases are diagnosed every year. In 2006, cancer killed more people than AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis combined. (facts.uicc.org)

"Cancer strikes all segments of society in every country. The good news is cancer is largely preventable," says Isabel Mortara, UICC executive director. "The first steps toward prevention are education and action. That needs to start with children."

In addition to targeting individuals, the World Cancer Campaign encourages policy decision-makers to put cancer on the public agenda.

"Cancer control can only be effective if given priority at the highest decision-making levels. Complacency and inaction on the part of the world community will effectively contribute to more than 10 million deaths every year by 2020," says Dr Franco Cavalli, UICC president.

Former United States First Lady Barbara Bush, Her Royal Highness Lalla Salma of Morocco, Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, and tennis star Steffi Graf are among those lending their voices to the World Cancer Campaign with encouragement for those touched by cancer. (voices.uicc.org)

The UICC is a global resource for action with more than 270 member organisations in Africa, The Americas, Asia-Pacific, Europe, and the Middle East. ( http:///members.uicc.org .)

/NOTE TO EDITORS: Artwork is available at ( http://artwork.uicc.org )/