WCRF UK supports World Cancer Day

We at World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF UK) are proud to support World Cancer Day and welcome the International Union Against Cancer (UICC)’s decision to focus on the preventable nature of the disease.

The message this year is that ‘cancer can be prevented too’ and spreading this message is an important part of our work here at WCRF UK.

Part of the campaign is around not smoking and avoiding sunburn and cancer-causing infections. These are all important in the fight to prevent cancer and, thankfully, many of us are now aware that these things, particularly smoking - affect our cancer risk.

But it is also raising awareness that people can reduce their cancer risk by eating a healthy plant-based diet, by being physically active and maintaining a healthy weight. It is these factors that are our focus at WCRF UK.

There is convincing scientific evidence that diet, physical activity and body fat affect cancer risk but awareness in Britain is still low. In fact, about 40 per cent of people in Britain are not aware of the links between cancer risk and diet and body fat. Awareness that drinking alcohol and being inactive increase risk is even lower.

But when it comes to preventing cancer through diet, body fat and activity, the stakes are high. In fact, scientists estimate about a third of the most common cancers could be prevented in this way. This means that every year in the UK, thousands of cases of cancer are diagnosed that could have been prevented.

This is the reason we are pleased prevention is the focus of this year’s World Cancer Day. We hope the work of organisations around the world to mark this event can go some way towards giving people the information they need to make their own informed choices.

This is because raising awareness is a vital step as we work towards a future free from cancer.

Marilyn Gentry

Chief Executive, WCRF UK and President, WCRF global network