UICC World Cancer Congress 2006

Objective: Current cancer patterns reflect the way we live, and global trends for cancer burden are on the rise. Through research we know that by making appropriate lifestyle choices, up to one third of all cancers could be prevented and lethal consequences avoided in another third. The challenge for reducing the cancer burden lies in transferring this knowledge into behavioural and societal changes. The International Union Against Cancer (UICC) is producing regional Handbooks which can be used by NGOs, medical doctors and health care personnel as well as decision-makers to develop effective strategies adapted to the burden of disease and risk factors in their own countries, taking into consideration the political situation, social environment and available resources.

Methods: UICC Prevention Strategies Handbooks are being developed for Europe, Latin America, South Asia and North/South East Asia. Editorial groups composed of experts from each region focus on the main avoidable risk factors for cancer and on the already proven screening programs, taking into account local culture, epidemiological profile and socio-economic situation. Missing information, and therefore topics to be researched, are also highlighted.

Results: UICC supports the development of evidence-based and cost-effective cancer prevention and early detection strategies within local settings. The UICC Evidence-based Cancer Prevention Strategies handbooks are tools for medical doctors and health care personnel, public health decision-makers and cancer organisations to form alliances among important stakeholders in the public and private sectors aimed at implementing initiatives based on the best available evidence. Regional Handbooks will be presented at the UICC World Cancer Congress.