WiRED Marks World Cancer Day

BY OLIVIA SPIRITO; EDITED BY BERNICE BORN

World Cancer Day occurs on February 4th of each year. This year’s theme is: “I AM one person AND I WILL help create a future without cancer.” The goal is to promote personal responsibility to prevent cancer by taking care of your health.

 

WiRED International offers a whole series of health learning modules on cancer for grassroots audiences and health professionals. WiRED’s training program comprises a three-part introduction to cancer and covers bladder, brain, breast, cervical, colorectal, pancreatic and prostate cancers and Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Also, WiRED is developing other cancer modules such as those for lung cancer and mesothelioma.

 

Cancer can occur almost anywhere in the human body. Cancer is defined as uncontrollable cell growth that invasively spreads into surrounding tissues inhibiting their function. When the cell’s genes are mutated, and they lose their tumor suppressor gene, tumors arise, and cancerous cells travel to other parts of the body.

 

Taking control of your life and your health is key to preventing cancer. Preventive choices include quitting tobacco, avoiding secondhand smoke, protecting your skin from the sun, limiting alcohol intake, being screened for cancer and maintaining a healthy weight.

 

This past year the global cancer burden is estimated to have risen to 18.1 million new cases and 9.6 million deaths. Specifically, lung, female breast, and colorectal (colon) cancer are responsible for one-third of the cancer incidence and mortality burden worldwide.

 

WIRED encourages you to dedicate yourself to a healthy lifestyle without cancer.

 

 


You can download the modules mentioned in this story, and all 400+ of WiRED’s health modules, through WiRED’s Health Module Access Program (HealthMAP) by clicking here. This easy-to-use free program will enable you to create your own customized collection of health learning modules. You can learn more about HealthMAP through WiRED's animation.