World Cancer Day 2016: Facts About the Disease; Are We Close to Finding a Cure?

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Cancer has been the most fatal disease for decades now and it has already affected our ways of living. After several years of intensive research, the solution to end this dreaded condition remains elusive. So, join the World Cancer Day 2016 to raise cancer awareness. 

The World Cancer Day campaign started in 2009. The program aims to promote research to find medication and preventive measures for the disease. Its advocacies also include the improvement of cancer treatment, as well as raising the public's awareness about the illness, International Business Times reported.

The American Cancer Society recorded 14.5 million Americans with cancer who are still living today and the number is growing. Each year, about 1.6 million Americans are diagnosed with cancer. Globally, there are 14.1 million cases of cancer every year.

The most common types of cancer are lung, breast, bowel and prostate.

Despite the growing cases of cancer, the events like World Cancer Day have been influential in shrinking the burden of the illness. In their website, the organizers revealed that the event carries the tagline "We can. I can." The same theme will be used in the next two years.

The team is encouraging everyone to get involve and be proactive in the battle against cancer. "World Cancer Day is a chance to reflect on what you can do, make a pledge and take action. Whatever you choose to do 'We can. I can.' make a difference to the fight against cancer," they wrote.

How's the progress in developing cures and preventive medication against cancer?

There is a big chance that soon we will find the most efficient way in putting an end to this malignant disease because there is a growing population of individuals who are dedicated to finding the solution.

On Monday, President Barack Obama announced that the administration is hoping to spend a total of $1 billion to fund "moonshot" to cure cancer, Forbes reported. While this amount may not be sufficient, it is enough to establish the framework to eventually meet the goal.

Cancer does not discriminate, rich or poor, popular or not, celebrities, politicians or ordinary individuals are all at risk of developing it. Per the report, last year, Vice President Joe Biden suffered the loss and pain that cancer brings after his son died due to brain cancer.

Biden was grieving when he made the call for a moonshot effort to cure cancer. Obama supported his call and announced in his final State of the Union address, "a new national effort .... [to] make America the country that cures cancer once and for all."

The report stressed that to achieve the moonshot cure, everyone should not only focus on the treatable cancers but also on the deadly types of cancer that usually lead to death. In addition, the government should encourage and support a new generation of physician-scientists who will pursue careers dedicated to cancer research.