Knowing no boundaries or borders; cancer is a disease that affects everyone worldwide, with over 12 million people diagnosed with cancer each year, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

There are more deaths due to cancer than AIDS, malaria, or TB combined, however, the good news is that two out of five cancers are preventable.

The WHO, in recognition of World Cancer Day today i. e. 4th February, with the theme ‘Cancer Can Be Prevented Too’ for this year, supports the International Union Against Cancer for promoting ways and focusing on simple measures to prevent cancer and ease the global burden of the disease.

According to experts, lifestyle chances can prevent about 40% of cancers, such as, quitting smoking, limiting alcohol consumption, avoiding too much sun, including maintaining a healthy weight through diet and exercise.

Getting vaccines targeting cancer-causing infections is also recommended, as they say 21% of all cancers are the result of infections.

Emphasizing the importance of cancer prevention, it is to be noted that in the UK, lung cancer is preventable via lifestyle changes and elimination of smoking habits. While, in Latin America, with its rising numbers of heart disease and diabetes cases, diabetes being the leading cause of death in Mexico, changing eating habits can lessen the risk of cancer.

Tackling the issue of trans-fats and salts, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), which focuses on improving the health of Latin America and the Caribbean, is working with food companies on salt reduction, including schools emphasizing an increase in fruits and vegetables from local food producers.

The WHO says one out of every eight deaths worldwide is due to cancer, warning without major changes, deaths due to cancer will rise from 7.6 million in 2010 to 17 million in 20 years.

With one in three people in Northern Ireland developing cancer during their lifetime, the Ulster Cancer Foundation (UCF) has also launched a year-long campaign for preventing the disease, including educating local people on how to prevent the disease.

There are 10,700 cancer diagnoses in Northern Ireland, every year, but Gerry McElwee of the UCF said, research shows two thirds of all cancers can be prevented by giving up smoking, avoiding sunburn, eating a varied diet with plenty of fruit and vegetables, maintaining a healthy weight and leading an active lifestyle.

At least 35% of cancers have been linked to diet alone, which makes eating 5 portions of fruit and vegetables per day, a simple though extremely important health message.