cancer day
Pink balloons hang on a stage during an event to raise awareness of breast cancer in Kosovo in 2013 Getty

World Cancer Day, observed annually on 4 February, is dedicated to raising awareness of cancer and encouraging its prevention, detection and treatment.

Cancers are among the leading causes of death worldwide, with approximately 14 million new cases and 8.2 million cancer-related deaths in 2012. Yet thanks to breakthroughs in research and treatment, cancer survival rates have doubled in the last 40 years.

John Newlands, a senior cancer information nurse Specialist at Macmillan Cancer Support, told IBTimes UK: "There are 2.5 million people living with cancer in the UK. This figure is set to rise to four million by 2030. It's a cause for celebration that more people than ever are surviving after a cancer diagnosis but this progress is a double-edged sword."

"The impact of cancer does not suddenly stop when treatment is over, we know that around one in four people in the UK already face poor health or disability after treatment for cancer. This means they may still be reliant on health services after they have been given the all-clear," he added.

"As numbers surge, the NHS will soon be unable to cope with the huge increase in demand for health services and the support that organisations like Macmillan provide will become even more urgent and important."

cancer day
Competitors take part in charity race "Les Bacchantes" to raise awareness of prostate cancer in 2013 in Paris Getty

History of World Cancer Day

World Cancer Day originated in 2000 at the first World Summit Against Cancer, which was held in Paris. Founded by the Union for International Cancer Control to support the goals of the 2008 World Cancer Declaration, it calls on government leaders and policy-makers to significantly reduce the global cancer burden and integrate cancer control into the world health and development agenda.

The main goal of the day is to reduce illness and death caused by cancers by 2020. The theme for 2015 is "Not Beyond Us" – to take a positive approach to the fight against cancer and highlight the new treatments and solutions within reach.

This year, the campaign will focus on four key areas: choosing healthy lives, delivering early detection, achieving treatment for all and maximising quality of life.

Cancer facts and statistics

Cancer is the generic term for the group of diseases involving abnormal cell growth with the potential to invade or spread to other parts of the body. Other terms used are malignant tumours and neoplasms.

The number of new cases of cancer is expected to rise by about 70% over the next two decades.

The five most common cancers in men in 2012 were prostate, lung, colorectum, stomach and liver.

In women, the most common cancers were breast, colorectum, lung, cervix and stomach.

Smoking is the most important risk factor in cancer, causing around 20% of global cancer deaths and around 70% of lung cancer deaths. Lung cancer caused 1.59 million deaths in 2012.

An estimated 169.3 million years of healthy life were lost globally because of cancer in 2008, according to Cancer Research UK.

In developing countries, cancer-causing viral infections – such as the human papillomavirus – are responsible for up to 20% of cancer deaths.

A person's risk of developing cancer depends on several factors, including age, genetics and avoidable lifestyle factors. Smoking, insufficient physical activity, alcohol and obesity account for a high proportion of cancers around the world.

More than 60% of new annual cases of cancer occur in Africa, Asia and Central and South America – all of which account for 70% of the world's cancer deaths.

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