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World Cancer Day 2014Every year on World Cancer Day, Feb-

ruary 4th, the world’s populations unitein the fight against cancer through a callto action to people across the globe aim-ing to save millions of preventabledeaths each year by raising awarenessand education and urging governmentsand individuals to take action.

Under the tagline, “Debunk theMyths,” this year’s focus was on Target5 of the World Cancer Declaration to re-duce stigma and dispel myths about thedisease through various materials.

The four main myths about cancerare: We don’t need to talk about cancer;There are no signs or symptoms; Thereis nothing I can do about cancer and Idon’t have the right to cancer care.These overarching myths are in-linewith global advocacy goals and leaveflexibility for members, partners andsupporters to adapt and expand on fortheir own needs.

The World Health Organization's(WHO) cancer agency warns there willbe 22 million new cases of cancer everyyear within the next two decades. A Feb-ruary 3, 2014 report from the Interna-tional Agency for Research on Cancer(IARC) estimated in 2012 there were 14million new cases but predicted that fig-ure would jump significantly due toglobal aging and the spread of cancersto developing countries.

The Lyon-based cancer arm of theWHO said more than 60 percent of theworld's cancer cases are in Africa, Asia,Central and South America. In 2012,IARC said the top cancer killers werethose of the lung, liver and stomach. Theagency called for countries to considerstronger legislation to encourage health-ier lifestyles, including measures totackle consumption of alcohol and sug-ary drinks. See www.iarc.fr

There is a need for a global commit-ment to drive advancements in policyand encourage implementation of com-prehensive National Cancer ControlPlans. We have a collective responsibil-ity to support low and middle incomecountries that are fighting cancer epi-demics with insufficient resources.

World Cancer Day is the ideal time tospread the word and raise the profile ofcancer in people’s minds and theworld’s media.

World Cancer Day is an initiative ofthe Union for International Cancer Con-trol (UICC), a leading international non-governmental organization that unitesthe cancer community to reduce theglobal cancer burden, to promotegreater equity and to integrate cancercontrol into the world health and devel-opment agenda. Founded in 1933 andbased in Geneva, UICC’s growing mem-bership of over 800 organizations across155 countries, features the world’s majorcancer societies, ministries of health, re-search institutes, treatment centers andpatient groups. UICC is a foundingmember of the Non-Communicable Dis-ease (NCD) Alliance, a global civil soci-ety network that represents almost 2,000organizations in 170 countries. For moreinformation go to: worldcancerday.orgor info@uicc.org. Online: www.iarc.fr ■

Margaret I. Cuomo, M.D. Photo by Sherwood Triart Photography

Thomas Sherman, M.D., chairman, Less Cancer, Congressman Charlie Dent, Margaret I. Cuomo, M.D., author, A World Without Cancerand Less Cancer board member, Bill Couzens, founder, president, Less Cancer and Congressman Steve Israel

Photo: Meghan Witt Photography

NATIONAL CANCER PREVENTION DAY Draws Record Attendance and Widespread Support

STORY BY SALLY GILHOOLEY

National Cancer Prevention Day, a resolution to bring attention to cancer pre-vention, held their landmark event on World Cancer Day, February 4th, inthe Rayburn House Office Building Gold Room on Capitol Hill, Washing-

ton, D.C. The resolution highlighting Less Cancer’s efforts was introduced by Con-gressman Steve Israel, representative from New York’s Third Congressional Districtand co-chair of the House Cancer Caucus. It states that when we work to preventcancer risks, it impacts positively human health, the environment and the economy.

Less Cancer, as part of Next Generation Choices Foundation, is the campaign thatworks to keep prevention in the forefront of the cancer conversation and has gainedthe attention of lawmakers, scientists and educators. Less Cancer is a nonprofit or-ganization rooted in the Web and social media that educates citizens about behav-ioral and environmental risks linked to cancer. Their campaign reaches more than100,000 regular followers in over 30 countries.

With standing room only, this year’s event was at-tended by over 200 international leaders includingeducators, legislators and experts in cancer preven-tion. Industry, the media, environmental conserva-tion, sustainability and advocacy were alsorepresented.

AgendaWelcoming remarks were made by William U.

“Bill” Couzens, Founder and President of Next Gen-eration Choices Foundation and the Less CancerCampaign. Couzens, who credits their success to theorganization’s board of directors, said, “We havebeen very fortunate to have a board of directors whoare experts in science, medicine, law, finance, envi-ronment and communications.”

Moderator Margaret I. Cuomo, M.D., Less Cancer board member and author of AWorld Without Cancer reviewed in Networking® magazine’s November/December2012, issue and released in paperback October, 2013, led the panel discussion. In aninterview with Networking® she said, “It was a bi-partisan event which was very im-portant to me because cancer prevention is no different from anything else… This isnot red or blue. It affects everyone.”

A well-known advocate for cancer prevention, Dr. Cuomo is a board certified ra-diologist who served as an attending physician in diagnostic radiology at NorthShore University Hospital in Manhasset, New York. She added, “Congressman Is-rael and Congressman Charlie Dent, U.S. Representative for Pennsylvania’s Fif-teenth Congressional District, co-chairs of the House Cancer Caucus which dealsspecifically with issues relating to cancer, both spoke very compellingly about theneed for cancer prevention acknowledging treatment is important but saying wemust try harder especially with our young people to prevent cancer.”

The Congressmen received bi-partisan support for their designation of February 4as National Cancer Prevention Day (H-Res 473) which has been referred to commit-tee. Representative Israel, who has introduced several other bills advocating cancerprevention said, “Designating February 4th as National Cancer Prevention Day willhelp remind us that when we think about cancer, we must also keep in mind pre-vention and reducing risk and how simple behavioral changes can go a long way.”

SpeakersKeynote speaker, Dr. Graham Colditz, the 2014 Ronald B. Herberman, M.D. Me-

morial Lecturer, emphasized the fact that that over 50% of all cancers are preventa-ble. Dr. Colditz, Less Cancer board member and renowned pioneer in cancerprevention, is the Niess-Gain Professor of Surgery, Professor of Medicine and Direc-tor of Prevention and Control at the Siteman Cancer Center, Washington Universityin St. Louis, Missouri.

In summarizing Dr. Colditz remarks, Dr. Cuomo said, “He made it very clear thathis research shows what happens in our childhood and adolescence has a profoundeffect on our propensity to develop cancer as adults. He said we must begin withour young people. And, it is a simple message. It involves a healthful diet that isplant-based. That means eating mostly whole grains, vegetables, fruits and lean pro-tein. Lean protein is not a lot of steak or processed baloney and ham. These arestrategies and tools that we can teach our children in school and that they can teachtheir parents.

“Physical activity is also very important for youth and adolescents,” she added.“That doesn’t mean a lot of fancy equipment. It means climbing the stairs, jumpingrope at recess, running laps and doing jumping jacks. These are low budget, high-in-tensity exercises that we did as children and that would really improve the fitness ofour youth.

“Fortunately, our audience included not only legislators and lobbyists but univer-sity students, professors and lecturers” said Dr. Cuomo, who specialized in bodyimaging involving CT, ultrasound, MRI and interventional procedures. “EstherBarazzone, Ph.D., President of Chatham University, was on our panel. Chatham wasthe alma mater of Rachel Carson, the pioneering environmentalist who called ourattention to the harmful chemicals in our midst. We also had a university populationfrom the University of Virginia, Chatham University, Gettysburg College andGeorgetown University. So, along with advocates and public health experts, therewas a very strong representation by our youth, the next generation, and that is what

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we want to target because it is up to them now.”Special guest speaker, Howard K. Koh, M.D., M.P.H., Assistant Secretary of

Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services who oversees 12 publichealth offices including the Office of the Surgeon General that has direct controlover tobacco cessation, spoke with conviction about the need to deter our youthfrom smoking in addition to all the other cancer prevention strategies. He wasnamed by the American Cancer Society as one of the most influential people in thefight against tobacco during the last 25 years.

Healthy LifestylesDr. Cuomo, much of whose practice was dedicated to the diagnosis of cancer and

AIDS, said, “We are all delighted with the announcement from CVS Caremark Corp.that CVS/pharmacy stores will no longer sell cigarettes and other tobacco products

(after October, 2014.)”Secretary of Health and Human Services, Kathleen

Sebelius, made the CVS announcement citing the re-cently released 50th Anniversary Surgeon General Re-port on smoking and health which says nearly 500,000Americans die early each year due to smoking andsmoking costs us $289 billion annually. Every day, morethan 3,200 youth under age 18 in the United States trytheir first cigarette and more than 700 kids under 18 be-come daily smokers. If we fail to reverse course, 5.6million American children alive today will die prema-turely due to smoking. This is unacceptable.

Long Islander Ellen Deutsch, senior vice president,global technical services and chief sustainability officerfor The Hain-Celestial Group, spoke about the commit-ment of Hain to provide organic food products and nat-

ural food products to fight obesity and promote good health.“She represented all of us here on Long Island,” said Dr. Cuomo, “And, we are so

glad to have The Hain Group on Long Island. One more key New Yorker presentwas Heather Dacus, a doctor of Osteopathy, and the Director of the Bureau ofChronic Disease Control for the New York State Department of Health. She spokeabout all of the great initiatives of New York State in preventing heart disease, dia-betes and cancer. New York State is the leader in the nation of these initiatives.”

Thomas M. Sherman, M.D., Chairman of Less Cancer Board of Directors and afounding director of Next Generation Choices and the Less Cancer Campaign wasalso on the program. Also present was Susi Tobias, Advocate, Volunteer and LeadCyclist for Less Cancer who rode her bike 300 miles from Port Heron to Mackinac Is-land, Michigan, in memory of her best friend, Aileen O’Brien Graf who passed awayfrom cancer. Graf’s brother, Miles O’Brien, is a board member of Less Cancer.

A Hopeful FutureIn summing up the success of the day, Dr. Cuomo noted, “All of these stakehold-

ers; the university population, public health professionals and advocates in industrywant to carry this (cancer preventive initiative) forward. This means that there willbe more gatherings like National Cancer Prevention Day on university campuses. Itmeans that The Hain Celestial Group, a giant in the organic food industry, wants totake a leading role. The legislators, both Republican and Democrat, see what a com-pelling message this is and that it makes good fiscal sense for our economy. It iscost-effective to prevent cancer because cancer is breaking our backs financially.They all want to see us move this forward through media, more forums and througheducation.”

In her book, A World Without Cancer, Dr. Cuomo proposed the formation of a Na-tional Cancer Prevention Institute (NCPI) as part of the National Institutes of Health(NIH) “to target cancer prevention exclusively, …and coordinate with the manycloistered activities throughout the federal government and lead the way into newarenas.” When asked if the success of the 2014 event could lead to the developmentof such an institute, Dr. Cuomo said, “Absolutely! You have to take a little step tolead to a giant step. Once we get the legislators on board and show how it makessense, we can propose (NCPI).”

The Less Cancer EffortFor more than 40 years, the National Cancer Institute has spent $90 billion with its

budget for 2012 including more than $2 billion for research, $1.3 billion for treat-ment and only $232 million for prevention and control. Nevertheless, since 1974, pe-diatric blood cancers are up 60% and brain cancers have increased 40% in children14 and under. Less Cancer’s mission is to raise awareness of these trends and makerisk reduction and prevention a vital part of the cancer paradigm.

Less Cancer’s work on health and the environment spans a wide range of issues,including specific contaminants, pollution sources and healthy lifestyle choices suchas diet, exercise and nutrition. While working to protect all communities, the LessCancer approach is particularly relevant to at-risk populations such as children,low-income communities and workers. To take part in their effort, plan an event,raise funds and/or awareness visit info@www.lesscancer.org

Further information about cancer can be obtained at: worldcancerday.org andcommunication@uicc.org or info@uicc.org ■

Every day, more than 3,200youth under age 18 in the

United States try their firstcigarette and more than

700 kids under 18 becomedaily smokers.