18 Million People Develop Cancer Yearly

Over 18 million people develop cancer yearly worldwide. Out of this number, 9.6 million people die from the scourge annually. This is contained in a statement issued to mark the world cancer day by Mass Medical Mission.

The statement noted that February 4 every year is set aside as World Cancer Day, a day to rally the international community to end the injustice of preventable suffering from cancer.

The theme for World Cancer Day 2019 is “I Am and I Will”. It calls for a personal commitment to help reduce the global burden of cancer.

“Worldwide, over 18 million people develop cancer yearly with 9.6 million deaths from cancer every year – about 26,000 cancer deaths a day. This number is predicted to grow. Sadly, 70% of cancer deaths occur in developing countries like Nigeria due to late detection as a result of poor infrastructure and lack of organized system of preventive health care.

“To address this problem, the National Cancer Prevention Programme (NCPP), a nongovernmental initiative of mass medical mission is carrying out several free life-saving initiatives. These include: Mission PinkCruise / PinkVISSION (free community-based health outreaches with Mobile Cancer Centres), Health Education on the go, Wellness Wednesday, Premarital Health Promotion Programme, among others,” the statement added.

To mark the 2019 World Cancer Day, an edition of Mission PinkCruise / PinkVISSION is scheduled as follows:

1. Date: World Cancer Day (February 4, 2019)

Venue: NTA 2 Lagos Network Centre, Victoria Island

Time: 8am

2. Date: February 5, 2019

Venue: NTA 10, Tejuoso, Yaba

Time: 8am