On World Cancer Day millions are urged to get active to help combat the world’s most deadly disease. Under the banner "We can. I can", the day will encourage people to be more active - in every sense - in the fight against a disease that, in less than two decades, will be responsible for the deaths of up to 24 million people per year (the equivalent of the current population of Australia).
Cary Adams, Chief Executive Officer UICC: “This World Cancer Day we want to inspire individuals to play an active role in the fight against cancer, by being physically active. More than one third of all cancers, up to 4.5 million per year, are preventable through lifestyle changes, such as increasing physical activity and leading a less sedentary lifestyle. A large number of people also find exercise to be of great benefit to their wellbeing either during or after treatment. The ‘We can. I can.’ campaign is in its second year and we hope to build on the success of last year and spread the message further than ever".
Physical activity decreases not only cancer risk , but also the risk of many important chronic diseases and conditions, including coronary heart disease, stroke, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, abnormal cholesterol levels, osteoporosis, and depression. The European Code against Cancer recommends trying to engage in at least 150 minutes of physical activity of moderate intensity per week, or 75 minutes of physical activity of vigorous intensity per week, or an equivalent combination of moderate- and vigorous-intensity activity, if possible.
Aside from prevention, a growing body of evidence shows that physical activity significantly helps cancer patients, not only to manage the life-altering side-effects of treatment such as fatigue, depression and heart damage, but also in reducing the risk of the disease worsening or recurring. Research shows, for example, that a breast cancer patient’s risk of recurrence and of dying from the disease can be reduced by up to 40 per cent by doing recommended levels of physical activity.
In Piedmont, the adult population (18-69 years) is divided in a manner broadly equivalent between sedentary (30%), people who do physical activity in quantities less than that required by international standards (37%) and active people who exercise according the international recommended standards (33%).
Nereo Segnan, Director of Epidemiology, Screening and Cancer Registry Unit, Center for Cancer Epidemiology and Prevention in the Piedmont Region (CPO), University Hospital Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino: “We carry out assistance and research in the field of cancer control: we are responsible for the coordination of the regional program of cancer screening and one of the creators of the Laboratory of Prevention of Piedmont. We also greatly contributed to the drafting of the European Code against Cancer. Promoting exercise is increasingly central among our goals: we are both engaged in projects that aim to increase physical activity in people invited to screening, and in the construction of regional policies to promote physical activity in the entire population".
The CPO is a member of UICC and the World Health Organization collaborating center for early diagnosis and screening. Among its institutional tasks include the coordination, evaluation and quality assurance of the regional program of screening for breast, colorectal and cervical. In addition, the CPO deals with interventions for primary prevention of cancer and chronic non-communicable diseases by promoting healthy lifestyles. The CPO occupies a leading role in scientific research on the best cancer prevention strategies and is part of several international working groups for the development of guidelines, recommendations and protocols for an effective fight against cancer.
For more information visit: www.worldcancerday.org