MEXICO CITY, February 17, 2021 / PRNewswire / – World Cancer Month, promoted by the World Health Organization (WHO), the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and the International Union Against Cancer (UICC), seeks to raise awareness in the world about the current problems, where AstraZeneca also joins promoting prevention through factor reduction risk, diffusion of screening tests, Y detection in early stages.
Globally, the cancer is one of the main causes of morbidity and mortality; they estimate that, in 2020, the global burden of cancer increased to more than 19.2 million new cases and they attribute more than 9.9 million deaths[1]. Approximately 1 in 5 people in the world will develop cancer during their lifetime. It is anticipated that in next 20 years the diagnoses increase 70%[2]; which undoubtedly calls us to action.
In the country, there are 191 thousand new cases annually, of which, 84 thousand die, being the third cause of mortality in the country. Currently, most frequent neoplasms per year in Mexico are: breast cancer (29,929), prostate (26,742), colon (14,901), thyroid (12,000), cervical (9,439) and lung (7,810) cases respectively. Also, the breast cancer provokes 7 thousand deaths a year Y the prostate 6,900 significantly impacting women and men respectively.
Age and genetics are non-modifiable risk factors, but it is estimated that 30-40% of cancers are preventable reducing exposure to other risk factors.
Another important challenge is early detection, to determine the outcome of the disease. “In Mexico, 60% of cases are detected in advanced stages, since the possibilities of effective treatments are reduced. That is why at AstraZeneca our goal is that, through scientific innovation, clinical programs and collaboration, we work to improve the quality of life of people with cancer. We reinforce our vision of responding to unmet medical needs by redefining the paradigm of cancer treatment”Commented Dr. Alberto Hegewisch, AstraZeneca Medical Director.
AstraZeneca reiterates its commitment to patients to provide state-of-the-art medications such as immunotherapy and monoclonal antibody conjugates, increasing the options for solid tumors and hematological cancers.
[1] GLOBOCAN 2020. Factsheet. Available in: https://gco.iarc.fr/today/data/factsheets/populations/900-world-fact-sheets.pdf
[2] SMeo. Prevention and timely diagnosis in cancer. Available in: https://www.smeo.org.mx/descargables/COPREDOC_GUIA.pdf
SOURCE AstraZeneca Mexico
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