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International Union Against Cancer Introducing UICC The International Union Against Cancer (UICC) is the leading international non-governmental organization dedicated to the global prevention and control of cancer. Founded in 1933, UICC unites over 300 member organizations, specialized and engaged in cancer control, in more than 100 countries across the world. UICC is non-profit, non-political and non-sectarian. Its headquarters are in Geneva, Switzerland. What we do UICC’s mission is to conne ct , mobi l i ze a nd s uppor t organizations, leading experts, key stakeholders and volunteers in a dynamic community working together to eliminate cancer as a lifethreatening disease for future generations. UICC works closely with its member organizations and partners to implement a comprehensive strategy that includes • • • • • • • • • • promoting the World Cancer Declaration organizing the World Cancer Congress raising awareness through the World Cancer Campaign coordinating World Cancer Day annually, on 4 February reviewing and disseminating the TNM (tumour-node-metastasis) classification of malignant tumours developing effective cancer control programmes especially in low- and middle-income countries changing cancer-related beliefs and behaviour through information and education creating special initiatives in prevention, early detection, access to treatment and supportive care awarding international cancer fellowships producing cutting-edge scientific publications, such as the International Journal of Cancer T a ck l i ng t he ca nce r bur de n i s a g l oba l cha l l e ng e - In today’s world, people are likely to be touched by cancer – either directly, as a person living with the disease, or through a family member or friend. More than 11 million new cases are diagnosed each year, and about 8 million people die from cancer – over 70% of them in low- and middle-income countries. Based on current trends, 15.5 million people will be diagnosed with cancer in 2030, and about 12 million people will die from the disease. The good news - We have more knowledge than ever before on how to bring cancer under control. About one-third (30-40%) of all cancers can be prevented, a further third can be cured (given early diagnosis and treatment), and effective palliative care can be provided to patients. Our challenge is to put this knowledge into practice in all parts of the world A global priority The World Health Assembly resolution on cancer prevention and control (2005) calls on countries everywhere to intensify action against cancer by developing and reinforcing cancer control programmes. Well-conceived, resource-appropriate national strategies lower cancer incidence and improve the life of cancer patients, no matter what constraints a country faces. About UICC In 1933, cancer researchers recognized the need to share knowledge and expertise globally and so founded the International Union Against Cancer (UICC). Since then, UICC has grown to embrace organizations engaged in all aspects of cancer prevention and control: voluntary cancer societies, research and treatment centres, public health authorities, patient support networks and advocacy groups, and ministries of health. UICC is governed by its member organizations, which meet in a general assembly, held in conjunction with the World Cancer Congress, every two years. Between assemblies, a board of 17 directors, elected by the general assembly, acts as the executive body of the UICC. UICC works closely with the World Health Organization (WHO), the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), and the Programme of Action for Cancer Therapy (PACT) and has consultative status with the UN Economic and Social Council. It offers corporate partners a unique opportunity to demonstrate social responsibility on a global scale. Every two years, the UICC brings together key stakeholders in a World Cancer Summit. *UICC is an acronym of the Latin name: Unio internationalis contre cancrum* The World Cancer Congress, held every two years, brings together the world’s leaders in the fight to control cancer. Leading clinicians, practitioners, government agencies and NGOs, patient-care providers and advocates, researchers and behavioural scientists and public health experts focus on transforming the latest knowledge into strategies that countries, communities, institutions and individuals can implement to reduce the cancer burden. The Global Cancer Control Community is an online platform for communication between professionals, volunteers and staff working in cancer control. It provides a forum for global networking and information exchange while also offering a wide variety of resources and tools. GLOBALink, the UICC tobacco control network, is an online recognized platform for communication for over 6,000 tobacco control professionals, allowing them to find and exchange the latest, most accurate information and analysis, access specific publications, guidelines and reports, and engage in collective action. Now in its second decade, GLOBALink has received the Luther L Terry Award and the Tobacco or Health medal from WHO. The World Cancer Declaration is a tool to help bring the growing cancer crisis to the attention of government leaders and health policymakers in order to significantly reduce the global cancer burden by 2020. It represents a consensus between government officials, public health experts and cancer advocates from around the world who are committed to eliminating cancer as a major threat for future generations. The Declaration outlines 11 targets to be achieved by 2020 including: significant drops in global tobacco consumption, obesity and alcohol intake; universal vaccination programmes for hepatitis B and human papilloma virus (HPV) to prevent liver and cervical cancer; dramatic reductions in the emigration of health workers with specialist cancer training; universal availability of effective pain medication; and dispelling myths and misconceptions about cancer. As the custodian of the Declaration, the UICC encourages priority actions to achieve the Declaration’s targets locally and nationally and promotes a comprehensive response across the globe. “The World Cancer Declaration outlines the critical steps needed to build the basis for sustainable delivery of effective cancer prevention, early detection, treatment and palliative care worldwide. These and other steps to advance global health are not just matters of moral concern: they are issues of fundamental human rights. We all have a role to play in moving the cancer control agenda forward.” Mary Robinson President of Realizing Rights: the Ethical Globalization Initiative World Cancer Summit 2008 The World Cancer Campaign, “Today’s children, tomorrow’s world”, is focused on children and cancer prevention. The campaign helps UICC members and partners to run education and mobilization projects and measure their effectiveness and aims to improve awareness in the fight against cancer, which in many countries still takes a back seat to other public health issues. “Today’s children, tomorrow’s world” targets parents, health professionals and decision-makers with four key messages: • give children and young people a smoke-free environment; • encourage an energy-balanced lifestyle based on healthy diet and physical activity; • learn about protection against cancer-causing infections; and • teach children and teenagers to avoid UV exposure by being “sun smart”. The World Cancer Campaign is a response to the Charter of Paris (4 February 2000), which calls for “an invincible alliance – between researchers, health-care professionals, patients, governments, industry and media – to fight cancer and its greatest allies, which are fear, ignorance and complacency”. World Cancer Day is coordinated by the UICC on 4 February each year, with support from members and partners such as, the World Health Organization (WHO), the International Atomic Energy Agency (IACA), and other international bodies. It is also on the occasion of each World Cancer Day that UICC launches its annual campaign theme. The cancer capacity-building fund, launched in 2007, supports member organizations in low and middle income countries in reaching out to their communities. In its first two years, it awarded 30 grants to members in 19 countries. The cervical cancer initiative, led by Nobel laureate Professor Harald zur Hausen, advocates for affordable vaccination, screening and treatment for all women, especially in low- and middle-income contries. It seeks to raise awareness through public information, education and campaigns, and provides training opportunities for health professionals and decision-makers. UICC is an active member of the Cervical Cancer Action coalition. Demonstration projects in Tanzania and Nicaragua aim to improve cervical cancer control and bulid local capacity. Childhood cancer: At least 160,000 children aged 14 or under are diagnosed with cancer each year. The good news is that childhood cancer can largely be cured if detected sufficiently early. Yet children with cancer in developing countries have less than a 50% survival rate, as opposed to 80% for children living in high-income countries. To combat childhood cancer, the “My child matters” initiative was launched by the UICC in 2006 in partnership with sanofi-aventis. To date, it has awarded grants to 34 pilot projects in 21 countries, covering public awareness, early detection, treatment and supportive care, professional education, and palliative care. The UICC, with the support of partners such as the Schellenberg and Symphasis foundations, also conducts longer-range paediatric oncology projects. International cancer fellowships: through this fellowships programme, UICC helps in the professional development of cancer investigators, clinicians and nurses, and cancer society staff and volunteers, so that they can deliver appropriate diagnosis, treatment and care wherever they live. Over 6,000 fellowships have been awarded to date. Patient support: UICC promotes • cancer patient groups, peer support, and psychosocial care; • cancer patient forums, offering a voice to patients, their families and caregivers; • Hope Lodges, providing low-cost accommodation to cancer patients in treatment and their families; and • cancer information services and helplines, in partnership with the International Cancer Information Services Group. Publications: in 1953, UICC adopted the TNM classification of malignant tumours created by Dr Pierre Denoix. Today, TNM is the global standard for cancer staging. Through the TNM classification project led by Dr Leslie Sobin and Dr Mary Gospodarowicz, UICC reviews and regularly updates the TNM Classification of Malignant Tumours, the TNM Atlas, the TNM Supplement, and Prognostic Factors in Cancer. UICC also publishes the Manual of Clinical Oncology, a concise and accessible reference on cancer detection, diagnosis and treatment. The International Journal of Cancer, UICC’s official journal, is a leading publication in experimental and clinical cancer research. It is distinctive for publishing epidemiological studies from all over the world, to a magnitude not found elsewhere in the oncology-related literature. All these publications are available through Wiley-Blackwell. UICC also publishes expert reports within the framework of the World Cancer Campaign. Useful links World Cancer Declaration: www.worldcancerdeclaration.org World Cancer Congress: www.worldcancercongress.org Global Cancer Control Community: www.uicc-community.org GLOBALink: www.globalink.org World Cancer Campaign: www.worldcancercampaign.org International Union Against Cancer (UICC) 62 route de Frontenex 1207 Geneva, Switzerland Tel +41 22 809 1811 | Fax +41 22 809 1810 E [email protected] | W www.uicc.org All cancer and tobacco statistics: World Health Organization, 2009