February 4th - World Cancer Day

World Cancer Day was created on February 4, 2000, at the World Cancer Summit for the New Millennium in Paris. The Paris Charter aims to promote research, prevent cancer, improve services to patients, raise awareness and mobilize the global community to make progress against cancer, including the adoption of World Cancer Day.

The date is an initiative of the International Union for Cancer Control, the oldest and largest international cancer organization dedicated to assembling, generating resources, and defending initiatives that unite the cancer-affected community to reduce the global impact of the disease, promote greater equality, and integrate cancer control into the global health and development agenda.

Currently, it is estimated that each year cancer takes the lives of up to 7.6 million people on the planet. Of these, 4 million are between 30 and 69 years old. Unless urgent measures are taken to raise awareness and develop practical strategies to deal with cancer, the forecast for 2025 is that 6 million premature deaths will occur each year. It is estimated that 1.5 million deaths annually could be prevented with appropriate measures.

2019 marked the beginning of an exciting three-year campaign. The new motto “I am and I will” calls for commitment and action, acting as an important reminder that each of us has a role to play in reducing the impact of cancer. The motto was adopted by supporters everywhere, and hundreds of personal messages of commitment were shared.

The impact of the campaign resulted in more than 15,000 press articles in 154 countries, 947 events in 127 countries, more than 700,000 tweets and 62 government leaders responded with vigorous support and commitment.

Cancer is the name given to a set of more than 100 diseases that have in common the disordered growth of cells, which invade tissues and organs. Dividing rapidly, these cells tend to be very aggressive and uncontrollable, causing the formation of tumors, which can spread to other regions of the body.

Cancer does not have a single cause. There are several external causes (present in the environment) and internal causes (such as hormones, immunological conditions, and genetic mutations). Factors can interact in different ways, starting with cancer.

National Mammography Day

We take the opportunity to remember that February 5th is National Mammography Day, a non-invasive exam that captures images of the female breast to detect malignant tumors in the breast. Digital mammography is mandatory coverage by health plans for beneficiaries in the age group between 40 and 69 years, as determined by the List of Procedures and Events in Health of ANS.

There is no screening for breast cancer in men, as it is a rare disease. However, mammography is recommended when the patient complains about a lump in the breast, discharge or swelling near the nipple, and unilateral pain.

Source: Biblioteca Virtual em Saúde | Agência Nacional de Saúde Suplementar