Since 2000, World Cancer Day is held every February 4 as a global initiative to face one of our greatest challenges. Despite the fact that the world is in the midst of the pandemic of covid-19, cancer should not be forgotten.
With almost 10 million deaths caused by cancer in 2020 around the world, shown in the research by International Agency for Research on Cancer*, cancer is one of the leading causes of death. With nearly 20 million new cases in 2020, the impact of cancer goes also far beyond physical health, affecting emotional and mental health of patients and also their families and caregivers.
This is the first year of the new Word Cancer Day 2022-2024 campaign theme “Close the Care Gap”. It is about identifying and understanding the inequities that exist around the world in access to the cancer care. All people around the globe, no matter where they are born, grow, age, work or live, deserve access to information about cancer and services in prevention, diagnosis, treatment and support.
Union for International Cancer Control (UICC), leading the global initiative, is encouraging us to recognize the current situation and help reduce the stigma of cancer patients. They should be able to speak about their perspectives and the first-hand experience should become the guide for our actions.
Many of us fell that we are not decision-makers, that we can’t change anything, but each and every one of us can act in the environment where we live and work. As individuals we can make the first steps by avoiding bad habits, promoting healthy lifestyle, not only in terms of physical activity but also in building healthy and strong relationships, or by offering a shoulder to cry on to a sick friend.
At Novak M, we stay closely connected to the hospital personnel so our products meet patient needs. Therapy chairs ZeroG have been designed to provide perfect comfort and safety for patients during long IV treatments such as chemotherapy. Two our recent case studies from UKC Ljubljana and Clinique Générale Beaulieu, Switzerland, show how important it is to offer patients comfort and safety during their treatment.
On World Cancer Day 2022, we would like to express support to those currently struggling with cancer and gratitude to those who stand by their side. Let’s make changes, small or big, to prevent cancer and close the cancer gap!
*Ferlay J, Ervik M, Lam F, Colombet M, Mery L, Piñeros M, et al. Global Cancer Observatory: Cancer Today. Lyon: International Agency for Research on Cancer; 2020 (https://gco.iarc.fr/today, accessed January 2022)
