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Today is World Cancer Day, and according to its official website, approximately 1.5 million lives could be saved per year if the World Health Organization’s (WHO) ’25 by 25’ target is met, representing WHO’s goal of reducing premature deaths (between the ages of 30 and 69) due to non-communicable diseases by 25% by 2025.

In observance of World Cancer Day, The Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) is asking people to speak up in an unanimous voice to dispel cancer myths and misconceptions under the theme “Cancer – Did you know?” sharing the myths vs. truths. They even made a handy Facebook app.

The four key myths/truths:

1. Myth: Cancer is just a health issue.
   Truth: Cancer is not just a health issue. It has wide reaching social, economic, development and human rights implications.
2. Myth: Cancer is a disease of the wealthy, elderly and developed countries.
   Truth: Cancer is a global epidemic, affecting all ages and socio-economic groups, with developing countries bearing a disproportionate burden.
3. Myth: Cancer is a Death sentence.
   Truth: Many cancers that were once considered a death sentence can now be cured and for many more people their cancer can now be treated effectively.
4. Myth: Cancer is my fate.
   Truth: With the right strategies, at least 30% of cancer cases can be prevented based on current knowledge.

Be sure to visit www.worldcancerday.org to join the over half million individuals who have signed the World Cancer Declaration to have effective cancer control programs in place, risk factors reduced, a better informed public, universally available pain control and other lifesaving measures in place by 2020. It only takes a few seconds. This is also where you’ll find the easily downloadable myth/truth app.