National Cancer Awareness Day (NCAD) is annually observed across India on 7 November to raise awareness about the prevention, detection, and treatment of various types of cancer.
- NCAD aims to educate the public about early detection, healthy lifestyle choices, and access to quality cancer care.
Note: According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), Cancer is the second leading cause of death worldwide, representing nearly 1 in 6 deaths globally.
Cancer Awareness Symbol:
i.A lavender ribbon is usually a sign of support for those living with all types of cancer.
ii.There are more than 50 ribbons that represent different cancers and their survivors and caregivers.
- Breast cancer: Pink Ribbon;
- Lung cancer: Pearl or white Ribbon, etc.
Background:
i.NCAD was initiated in India in September 2014 by Dr Harsh Vardhan, the former Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare.
ii.A committee was formed and it was declared that November 7 of every year would be observed as NCAD to raise awareness about early detection and the avoidance of cancer-causing behaviours.
iii.The first NCAD was observed on 7 November 2014.
Why November 07 ?
November 07 was chosen to commemorates the birth anniversary of the Nobel Prize Winner (for Physics in 1903 and Chemistry in 1911) Marie Curie (Maria Salomea Skłodowska-Curie, born on 7 November 1867), a Polish-born French physicist.
- She is remembered for discovering radium and polonium, and her huge contribution to finding cancer treatments.
Cancer Control Programme in India:
i.The National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP) was launched in 1975 and later integrated into the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases, and Stroke (NPCDCS), which has been operational since 2010.
ii.Under the National Health Mission (NHM), the NPCDCS supports states and union territories in raising awareness about cancer prevention by providing financial assistance for Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) activities aimed at educating the public at the grassroots level.
iii.As part of this initiative, 616 Non-Communicable Disease (NCD) clinics, 3,827 such clinics at the Community Health Centre (CHC) level and, 214 Day Care Centres for Chemotherapy have been set up to provide specialized care.
iv.The National Cancer Registry Programme (NCRP) was initiated in 1982 by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).
Note: The Union Budget for Financial Year 2024-25(FY25) has provided a boost to cancer care in India, with an increase of approximately Rs 4,000 crore in funding for the National Health Mission (NHM). This funding is directed toward improving primary and secondary healthcare services.
Key Facts:
i.As per the study carried out by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)- National Centre for Disease Informatics and Research (NCDIR):
- Cancer cases in the Northeast (NE) are projected to rise by 13.5% by 2025.
- The projected number of cancer cases for the year 2025 is estimated to be 57,131 (30,985 in males and 26,146 in females).
ii.According to the WHO’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), an estimated 28.4 million new cancer cases are projected to occur in 2040 globally.
- It is a 47% increase from the estimated 19.3 million cases in 2020.
iii.According to data from the National Cancer Registry Programme, Over 800,000 new cancer cases are expected each year, with tobacco-related cancers accounting for as much as 35–50% of all cancers in men and 17% in women.
- Among these, tobacco-related cancers including oral, lung, and head and neck cancers are particularly prevalent and account for a major proportion of cancer cases.
