UICC 2Oth World Cancer Congress Geneva 2008. John R. Seffrin, PhD, chief executive office of the American Cancer Society
On August 28, more than 2,000 doctors, researchers, policymakers, and advocates gathered in Geneva, Switzerland, for the 20th World Cancer Congress. At this four-day event organized by the International Union Against Cancer (UICC), American Cancer Society chief executive officer Dr. John Seffrin presented a two-year Progress Report on the World Cancer Declaration, drafted at the previous Congress in 2006 as an urgent call to action. The 2008 report provides details on the achievements made since the adoption of 11 agreed-upon action steps described in the World Cancer Declaration. Highlights of the report include continuous progress in tobacco control, palliative care, and improved access to HPV and hepatitis B vaccinations, which can significantly reduce cervical cancer and liver cancer respectively.
