Global Focus
GCCA invites you to join our global community to help us in the fight against the killer disease colorectal cancer which is highly treatable if diagnosed early.
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the 2nd leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide. More than 620,000 people die each year from CRC and the number is growing. More than 1.2 million people are diagnosed with CRC each year. CRC is the 3rd most common cancer, yet it remains the most preventable major cancer through screening. Incidence rate is expected to increase by 33.5% by 2020. The economic burden of CRC is staggering, estimated to be in excess of $33,000,000,000.
In many countries around the world, there are no CRC screening programs, no access to treatments and no patient voice to effectuate change. Similarly CRC patients have no support. Even in developed and developing countries, CRC remains a huge problem. In the US, 1/3 of the number of people who should be screened are not getting tested and in Europe the problem is far worse. There are 136 million Europeans eligible for CRC screening yet only 12 million have participated. While Europe accounts for only 11% of the world population, it accounts for about 1/3 of all CRC deaths worldwide.
CRC is increasing in economically transitioning countries, including Eastern Europe, most of Asia, and in select countries in South America. CRC incidence rates worldwide increased in 27 of 51 international cancer registries studied by the IARC. Very few other countries have formal screening programs, coverage for testing or awareness programs to educate the public about the disease and how it can be prevented. Awareness of the disease, its reach, its ability to be prevented and its treatability if caught early, are the keys to changing the global problem of colon cancer.
A major cause is a diet rich in fat, refined carbohydrates and animal protein, combined with low physical activity.
Genetic susceptibility appears to be involved in less than five per cent of cases. Epidemiological studies suggest that risk can be reduced by decreasing meat consumption (particularly processed meat) and increasing the intake of vegetables and fruit.
Migrant populations rapidly reach the higher level of risk of the adopted country, another sign that environmental factors play a major role.
The recently published report from the Economist Intelligence Unit sponsored by the Lance Armstrong Foundation – Livestrong on the Global Burden of Cancer indicates that by 2020, 9.7 % of new world cases of cancer will be from Colorectal Cancer making it the third highest incidence cancer after Lung and Breast. The highest increases of incidence of the disease are predicted in Kuwait, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Brunei and Europe.
The reasons for growth vary from region to region however key risk factors are:
- Tobacco use
- Unhealthy diet
- Physical inactivity
- Virus infections like Hepatitis B (liver cancer) and the Human Papilloma Virus (cervical cancer)
- Ageing populations - the older you are the greater the chance of developing cancer
- The lack of resources for treatment and of primary and secondary prevention
A significant difference could be made in survival rates by raising the profile of the disease, dispelling the taboos surrounding it, encouraging early detection through screening, treating the disease at an early stage and eventually the widespread use of personalised treatments based on novel molecular targets.
Global Colon Cancer Allicance urges you to react to these predictions and inivtes you to join our alliance now!info@globalcca.org
