World Cancer Day (4 February): Together, We Can Beat Cancer

Standing Together Against Cancer

Cancer continues to affect millions of lives worldwide, touching not only patients but also families, caregivers, and entire communities. Despite the continued immense burden of cancer, there is hope. Through awareness, early detection, scientific innovation, and compassionate care, we can significantly reduce its impact and move toward a future where cancer is detected early, treated effectively, and prevented whenever possible.

Observed every year on 4 February, World Cancer Day unites the global community in a shared mission—to raise awareness, improve education, and inspire meaningful action against cancer. This day reminds us that meaningful progress against cancer arises from shared responsibility and commitment, not science alone.

Key Facts about Cancer

Cancer continues to be a leading global crisis, with millions of new cases diagnosed every year.  The following facts highlight its growing impact and importance.

Global Impact: Cancer is the second leading cause of death globally, resulting in over 10million deaths every year (Source: WHO)

According to data from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), global cancer incidence reached 19.3 million new cases in 2020. This escalation is forecast to persist, with incidence rates expected to climb by 12.8% by 2025.In 2020,an estimated 19,3 million new cancer cases expected to rise by 12.8% by 2025 compared to 2020 (Source: NIH – National Institute of Health)

Effect on the Economy: The annual worldwide expense of cancer surpasses $1.16 trillion, underscoring the necessity of long-term sustainable healthcare solutions.(Source: NIH – National Institute of Health)

Prevention: By changing our lifestyles and getting vaccinated, we can prevent 30–50% of cancer cases (Source: NIH – National Institute of Health)

Early Detection Saves Lives: Early cancer detection is a life-saving measure that greatly increases treatment efficacy and enhances long-term survival.

The most frequently diagnosed cancers worldwide include:

• Lung & Breast
• Colorectal & Prostate
• Skin (melanoma) & Cervical

Each has unique risk factors and prevention methods.

The Global and Indian Cancer Burden

Cancer is a leading global cause of death, with millions of new cases annually. In India the impact is intensified by late diagnosis, restricted access to quality care and low screening uptake, especially in rural and undeserved communities.

A significant proportion of cancer cases in India are due to breast, cervical, oral, lung and colorectal cancers . Many of these are either preventable or highly treatable when detected early, highlighting the urgent need for awareness, screening, and accessible diagnostic services.

Why Cancer Awareness Matters

Awareness plays a critical role in reducing cancer-related mortality. Fear, stigma, and misinformation often delay diagnosis and treatment, leading to poorer outcomes.

Cancer awareness empowers individuals to:

• Recognize early signs and symptoms
• Understand personal risk factors
• Seek timely screening and medical attention
• Provide empathetic support to patients and survivors

Awareness is more than knowledge, it enables action. Individual ownership of health and community support for early intervention significantly improves survival.

Understanding Cancer: From Cells to Disease

Cancers arises when abnormal cells proliferate uncontrollably and invade other tissues, a process known as metastasis.. This can occur due to a combination of:

• Genetic mutations
• Environmental exposures
• Lifestyle factors, including tobacco use, poor diet, and lack of physical inactivity

Cancers are broadly classified into:

• Carcinomas – develop in the epithelial cells lining organs or the skin(e.g., breast, lung,colon)
• Sarcomas – affecting connective tissues such as bone or muscle
• Leukemia’s –   Develop in the bone marrow and involve abnormal blood cell production.

Early intervention remains the most effective strategy for preserving both life and lifestyle.

Prevention and Early Detection: Our Strongest Defense

While total prevention isn’t always possible, proactive habits and screenings are powerful tools for avoiding or catching cancer in its most treatable stages.

• Avoid tobacco and limit alcohol consumption
• Prioritize nutritious eating and consistent movement
• Receive recommended vaccinations, including HPV and Hepatitis B
• Participate in routine cancer screening programs
• Reduce exposure to environmental and occupational carcinogens

Early detection often results in less aggressive treatment, reduced healthcare costs, and better long-term outcomes.

Cancer in the Era of Genomics

A molecular knowledge of cancer has replaced a purely tissue-based approach in modern cancer care. Advances in genomics have shown that certain genetic changes and molecular pathways are responsible for the development of cancer.

Global initiatives like The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and the International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC) have mapped thousands of cancer genomes, enabling precision diagnostics and targeted therapies.

Key molecular markers used today include:

• Actionable mutations such as EGFR, BRCA1/2, KRAS
• Gene fusions like BCR–ABL
• Biomarkers such as microsatellite instability (MSI) and tumor mutational burden (TMB)

These molecular insights have enabled precision oncology, allowing treatment to be tailored to the unique biology of each patient’s tumor.

The Role of PCR and Advanced Diagnostics

Despite rapid advances in next-generation sequencing (NGS), PCR-based technologies remain central to cancer diagnostics due to their accuracy, sensitivity, and affordability.

PCR is widely used for:

• Detecting clinically relevant mutations
• Monitoring minimal residual disease (MRD)
• Analyzing circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA)
• Guiding targeted therapy decisions

NGS and liquid biopsy technologies further enhance cancer care by enabling comprehensive genomic profiling and non-invasive disease monitoring, offering real-time insights into treatment response and resistance.

Common Myths and Misconceptions about Cancer

Cancer myths and misinformation can cause fear, delay diagnosis and prevent effective prevention .Correcting them is key to building true understanding .Here are some common myths and facts that counter them

Myth 1: Cancer is Always Fatal

• Fact: Although a cancer diagnosis is daunting, early detection coupled with modern therapeutic breakthroughs has fundamentally transformed survival expectations

 Myth 2: Cancer Only Affects Older People

• Fact: Although age is a significant risk factor, cancer can affect individuals of any age, including children and young adults. Lifestyle choices, genetics, and environmental factors also contribute.

Myth 3: Cancer is Contagious

• Fact: Cancer cannot spread from person to person through physical contact, sharing meals, or being in close proximity. Certain transmissible viruses like HPV and Hepatitis B, can increase the risk of developing cancer.

Myth 4: Only Smokers Get Lung Cancer

• Fact: Smoking is the leading cause of the lung cancer ,but non smokers are also at risk from air pollution,passive smoke and inherited susceptibility.

Myth 5: Cancer Treatments Are Worse Than the Disease Itself

• Fact: Chemotherapy and radiation may have side effects, but they are designed to control or cure cancer.Modern targeted therapies reduce side effects and improve quality of life.

Myth 6: No family history doesn’t mean no risk

• Fact: Family history can increase cancer risk, but most cancers are driven by lifestyle and environmental factors. Everyone should prioritize screening and healthy habits.

Myth 7: Cancer Surgery Causes It to Spread

• Fact: This is a common misconception. Surgery removes cancer and does not cause it to spread. For many patients, it’s the first step on the road to recovery

Innovation Driving Better Cancer Care

Accurate diagnosis is the foundation of effective treatment. Advances in molecular diagnostics, imaging technologies, and laboratory automation are enabling clinicians to make faster, more informed decisions.

Industry and diagnostic partners support this progress by providing:

• Advanced PCR and molecular testing solutions
• High-quality reagents and assays
• Imaging tools and diagnostic software
• Technical expertise and application support

These innovations help laboratories deliver reliable, reproducible, and clinically actionable results.

Innovation in Cancer Diagnostics: Supporting Better Outcomes

Accurate diagnosis is the foundation of effective treatment. Advanced molecular and imaging technologies are enabling clinicians to detect cancer earlier and treat it more precisely.

DSS supports cancer diagnostics by providing:

•  Microscopes, software, and digital slide scanners
• H&E and immunohistochemistry tools, reagents, and antibodies
• Thyroid cancer, melanoma, lung cancer, leukemia, GIST, JAK2 V617F Mutation Detection Kit, BCR ABL Quantitative RT-PCR Kit-Major, and BCR ABL Qualitative RT-PCR Kit-Major, Minor, and Micro real-time PCR kits
• Skin, ovarian, pancreatic, colorectal, breast, brain, childhood, general tumor profiling, leukemia and lymphoma, and solid tumors are among the conditions for which MLPA assays are available.
• Digital MLPA for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, Multiple Myeloma, and Hereditary Cancer detection
• Fish probes

Conclusion: A Collective Commitment

On this World Cancer Day, we are reminded that defeating cancer requires more than scientific breakthroughs – it requires awareness, early action, and collaboration across healthcare systems, research institutions, and communities.

By combining prevention, early detection, cutting-edge diagnostics, and compassionate care, we can reduce the burden of cancer and improve survival outcomes.

Together, we can beat cancer – because awareness today saves lives tomorrow.

About the writer –

Mr. Raju Pendyala is an experienced biotechnology professional with over 18 years of expertise in molecular diagnostics, genomics, and PCR-based technologies. He has a strong background in qRT-PCR, PCR automation, cancer biology, and infectious disease diagnostics, supporting clinical laboratories and research institutions. Raju is Abbott-certified on the m2000 automated extraction and real-time PCR platform, with hands-on experience in HIV, HBV, HCV, and COVID-19 testing. He has worked closely with clinicians and laboratory professionals to implement molecular workflows and optimize assay performance.