Millions of Cancer Cases are Preventable - Lifestyle Factors key to Saving Lives

Latest Cancer Preventability Data Released to Mark World Cancer Day

GENEVA, February 4, 2011 - On World Cancer Day, new independent evidence confirms that the
increasing global trend of unhealthy and sedentary lifestyles is responsible
for putting millions at an unnecessarily high risk of cancer.

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New estimates released today by the World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF)
global network suggest that across a range of countries, making lifestyle
changes including maintaining a healthy weight, eating a healthy diet and
taking regular physical activity can reduce the risk of common cancers by up
to a third.[1]

These findings are further supported by the World Health Organization's
(WHO) new Global Recommendations on Physical Activity for Health.[2] This
landmark report reinforces that regular physical activity has the potential
to prevent many diseases such as breast and colon cancers, cardiovascular
diseases and diabetes. The report addresses three age groups (5-17 years old,
18-64 years old, and 65 years old and above) and provides concrete
recommendations for levels of physical activity needed for health;[2] these
recommendations are especially helpful for low- and middle-income countries,
where few national guidelines for physical activity exist.

"Physical activity is recommended for people of all ages as a
means to reduce risks for certain types of cancers and other non-communicable
diseases," says Dr Tim Armstrong, from WHO's Department of Chronic Diseases
and Health Promotion. "In order to improve their health and prevent several
diseases, adults should do at least 150 minutes moderate physical activity
throughout the week. This can be achieved by simply walking 30 minutes five
times per week or by cycling to work daily".

There is also consistent evidence that other healthy living
initiatives are vital in reducing the risk of cancer including stopping
tobacco use, avoiding exposure to passive smoke, avoiding excessive sun
exposure and protecting against cancer-causing infections. And to help fight
the global cancer epidemic, the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC)
is urging individuals to take action and support the World Cancer Declaration
- at www.worldcancerday.org/signdeclaration

Signing the Declaration will help UICC in its effort to motivate global
leaders to set realistic and achievable directives for preventing cancer
during the United Nations Summit for Non-Communicable Diseases in September
2011. There has only been one UN General Assembly special session focused on
health since 1947; the announcement of the 2011 summit is an unprecedented
step in the battle against cancer.

Dr Eduardo Cazap, President of UICC summarised, "Support World Cancer Day
by signing the World Cancer Declaration and help us achieve the goal of one
million supporters for a Cancer Free World. With individuals, governments and
policy makers of the world working together, we have the ability to ease the
global burden of cancer now and for future generations."

Background information

About cancer

Cancer is a leading cause of death around the world and its incidence
continues to rise. Each year 12.7 million people discover they have cancer
and 7.6 million people die from the disease. Evidence shows that 30-40% all
cancers deaths can be prevented,[3] and one-third can be cured through early
diagnosis and treatment.

There are about 200 known types of cancer.[4] As with most illnesses
cancer is multifactorial which means that there is no single cause for any
one type of cancer. However, certain largely controllable or avoidable
lifestyle and environmental factors are also known to be causes of cancer.
For more information on health living initiatives please visit:
www.worldcancerday.org/prevention

About UICC

The Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) is the leading
international non-governmental organisation dedicated to the global
prevention and control of cancer. UICC's mission is to eliminate cancer as a
life-threatening disease for future generations. Founded in 1933, UICC unites
400 member organisations, specialised and engaged in cancer control, in more
than 120 countries across the world. UICC is non-profit, non-political and
non-sectarian. Its headquarters are in Geneva, Switzerland. For more
information please visit www.uicc.org or join our join us on Facebook:
www.facebook.com/pages/Cancer-Free-World/134386073255136

About the World Cancer Declaration

The World Cancer Declaration is a tool to help bring the growing cancer
crisis to the attention of government leaders and health policymakers in
order to significantly reduce the global cancer burden by 2020. It represents
a consensus between government officials, public health experts and cancer
advocates from around the world who are committed to eliminate cancer as a
life-threatening disease

for future generations.

The Declaration outlines 11 targets to be achieved by 2020 including:
significant drops in global tobacco consumption, obesity and alcohol intake,
universal vaccination programmes for hepatitis B and human papilloma virus
(HPV) to prevent liver and cervical cancer, universal availability of
effective pain medication and dispelling myths and misconceptions about
cancer. As the custodian of the Declaration, UICC encourages priority actions
to achieve the Declaration's targets locally and nationally and promotes a
comprehensive response across the globe. For more information please visit -
www.uicc.org/declaration

About the UN high level meeting on non-communicable diseases

In May 2010, the United Nations General Assembly unanimously passed a
resolution on the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases (NCDs),
calling for a UN Summit on NCDs to be held on the 19-20 September 2011 in New
York. The Summit will address the prevention and control of cancer,
cardiovascular disease, chronic respiratory disease and diabetes, which
together account for 60% (35 million) of global deaths. The largest burden -
80% (28 million) - occurs in low- and middle- income countries, making NCDs a
major risk to global development and economic growth. For more information on
the NCD summit visit: www.ncdalliance.org

References

[1] WCRF/AICR preventability estimates: Update to estimates produced for
the 2009 Policy Report. 2011. World Cancer Research Fund.

[2] WHO. Recommendations on Physical Activity for Health

[3] WHO, 2007: 'The World Health Organization's Fight Against Cancer'.
Available at:
www.who.int/cancer/publicat/WHOCancerBrochure2007.FINALweb.pdf. Last
accessed Jan 2011

[4] Cancer Research UK. Available from:
info.cancerresearchuk.org/healthyliving/smokingandtobacco/. Last
accessed Jan 2011

Video:
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For more information, please contact: UICC Press Relations, Leah Peyton, Email: leah.peyton at toniclc.com, Tel: +44-207-798-9923 / +44-7788-191-434