The Global Fight Against Cancer

Dr. John Seffrin Featured in Voice of America Report on UN High-level Meeting on NCDs

New York City — Heads of state and government representatives assembled at the United Nations this week to address the emerging threat of non-communicable diseases worldwide. One of those so-called "NCDs" is cancer.  For those whose lives have already been affected somehow by this deadly disease, the attention was long overdue.

The United Nations says this is a critical moment - and a lack of action on non communicable diseases, or "NCDs," could pose a threat to global development

"You have the power to make sure that your development is moving on a good path. We must act now with a sense of urgency," noted World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Margaret Chan.

NCDs include diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular and chronic respiratory diseases.  For John Seffrin, chief executive officer of the American Cancer Society, this week was historic.

"There are other issues going on out there but the one that stole the show is the interest to the NCDs," said Seffrin.  "Two, it's the recognition that if we don't intervene, that' ll be calamitous. The cumulative economic output loss over the next few years could be as much as $47 trillion."

A huge amount, comprising millions of individual losses. Those stories can be found in all countries, told by people from all walks of life. Seffrin, for example, lost his grandmother to colon cancer and his mother to leukemia.  His wife is also a breast cancer survivor.

"She is coming onto her 7th anniversary. Her seventh new birthday. She will never die of that breast cancer because it was detected early," said Seffrin.

Vera Golik came to New York from Brazil.  This week was an opportunity for her to showcase a project dear to her heart.  An exhibition of her husband's photographs of breast cancer survivors illustrates how important the human touch is in dealing with all phases of cancer. Her inspiration?

"I received a call my sister and my brother the same week had cancer. My brother had lymphoma and my sister had breast cancer.  [A] few months later, my mother had cancer too," said Golik.

Although it was devastating, she says the one thing that helped them get through the ordeal was support from friends and family.

"Give a hug, a phone call, stay beside them," added Golik.  "They know we are together in this fight and they will win. The winning is not dying, because we all going to die some day. It's how we pass this as a warrior."

Lance Armstrong won the Tour de France seven times, more than any other cyclist.  But his most important victory was against testicular cancer. After all these years, he says the most important thing for cancer survivors like him is to tell their stories.

"What we are asking people to do on a daily basis through social media or through our own outreaches, share your story, be proud of that and represent that movement of people we are all part of 28 million people," said Armstrong.

Armstrong's cancer support network, livestrong.org, has been working to improve the lives of those affected by the disease.  And as this video shows, other non-communicable diseases are taking a toll.

A total of 36 million people died from NCDs in 2008 - 200,000 from cancer in Brazil; in Germany, about 25,000 from diabetes; in China, 3.2 million from cardiovascular diseases; 108,000 Ethiopians from chronic respiratory disease and the list goes on.

The U.N. declaration on chronic diseases sets a new agenda in the fight to reduce the numbers.

 

Dr. Len Lichtenfeld Says Decisions Made During UN High-level Meeting Can Change the Face of Global Health

New York — There are few times in life when one gets to watch history being made. Today, September 19th is one of those times.  So begins today's Blog by Dr. Len Lichtenfeld, Deputy Chief Medical Officer for the national office of the American Cancer Society.  He continues, "I am in New York with a number of colleagues from the American Cancer Society and other committed organizations to observe a UN High Level Meeting which will--at long last--put non-communicable diseases on the international agenda. The impact of the decisions made here over the next two days can indeed change the face of global health forever."  For the full essay, check out Dr. Len's Cancer Blog. 

Dr. Len Lichtenfeld speaks with journalists at Social Good Summit briefing 

ACS and Partners Call for New Approach to Women's Health

Epidemic of Chronic Diseases Threaten Decades of Progress in Developing Countries 

New York City, 19 September – Government, United Nations and civil society leaders today called for a new approach to women’s healthcare to address the devastating impact of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular and chronic respiratory diseases in low and middle-income countries. Today, more than half of all female deaths in low and middle income countries are caused by NCDs.    

At an event coinciding with the first-ever UN High-level Meeting on NCDs, leaders issued a stark warning: unless the prevention and treatment of these diseases are integrated into current health programs and policies to tackle the specific risks of women, decades of progress on women’s health could be undermined and programs will fail to meet women’s health needs. 

The event, which was opened by UN Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro,included a panel of global health experts who outlined the challenges and solutions.  Rising rates of obesity, misuse of alcohol, lack of exercise and poor diets are putting millions of women in low and middle incomes countries at risk of chronic illness, disability and premature death. These new diseases threaten to place an unprecedented strain on health systems, women and communities. Women living in countries where reproductive health services are weak, pregnancy-related mortality is high and infectious diseases remain shamefully common, are now also threatened by NCDs. Health systems lack adequate investment in human resources, essential supplies, and infrastructure; leaving women unable to access care that could prevent death and disease throughout their lifetimes.

“We have to ask some tough questions. We have to look hard at poverty, and recognize that too many women are at greater risk of cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and chronic lung disease, simply because they are poor,” said the UN Deputy Secretary-General Dr. Asha-Rose Migiro. 

A new task force was announced to help meet the challenges.  Comprised of leading civil society organizations dealing with women’s health, the task force will advocate for a gender-based, lifecycle approach to NCD prevention and treatment. It also aims to expand technical capacity and resources of low and middle-income countries to meet existing and emerging women’s health needs. 

“The threat of NCDs for women in developing countries is one of the greatest public health challenges of our time. This task force will further global awareness and expand our ability to meet women’s health needs throughout the developing world,” said John R. Seffrin, PhD, CEO of the American Cancer Society. 

Members of the task force include the American Cancer Society, Family Care International, International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF), Jhpiego, PATH, PSI, the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC), Women Deliver and the World Heart Federation. The Partnership for Maternal Newborn and Child Health (PMNCH) will work with the task force in a technical advisory role. The group plans to also work closely with the GAVI Alliance and UN Agencies.

The panel of experts said ensuring women’s rights to access to healthcare for these emerging diseases would deliver better health outcomes and galvanize achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

Urbanization, gender disparity, poverty, poor education, economic inequities and lack of access to health services were all mentioned as primary causes of NCDs among women. “The same inequities that have plagued some communities and caused unthinkable rates of pregnancy-related mortality are putting women at additional risk for non-communicable diseases,” said Jill Sheffield, President and Founder of Women Deliver. 

Vaccination against the virus that causes cervical cancer and other lifesaving approaches to cervical and breast cancer prevention were identified as critical steps in protecting against escalating and alarming rates of cancer among women. “For Rwanda, the HPV vaccine has become an essential part of our cancer strategy, but also a springboard to reaching out to adolescents and their parents with health messages and services. It’s a win win,” said Dr. Agnes Binagwaho, Minister of Health from Rwanda.  

Seth Berkley, CEO of the GAVI Alliance, described his organization’s goal to offer HPV vaccine at affordable and sustainable prices to countries eligible for its support. “GAVI has already immunized 267 million people against hepatitis B, a major cause of liver cancer, and we are now setting our sights on tackling cervical cancer by making HPV vaccines available to girls in the world’s poorest countries,” said Dr. Berkley. GAVI is working with its partners to further reduce the price of the vaccine.

The vast range of health issues causing early death and disability in developing countries was discussed. “It’s unprecedented to be discussing women and heart disease with leaders of the global health community. However, when you look at the numbers, it’s a discussion that is long overdue,” said Johanna Ralston, CEO of the World Heart Federation.

 
The co-hosts of the event include the American Cancer Society, the GAVI Alliance, the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health, PATH, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Women Deliver and the World Heart Federation. 

 

Bangladesh Joins ACS' Global News Coverage of NCDs

THE FINANCIAL EXPRESS

Aminul Islam Sujon

The UN Summit on NCDs 

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) including the most common cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diabetics and chronic respiratory diseases are increasing day by day around the world. Such NCDs are now a major global health burden.

According to the global status report of the World Health Organisation (WHO) on NCDs 2011, NCDs are the leading causes of death in the world, accounting for 63% of global death. Eighty per cent of such death cases occur in the developing countries.

According to Global Facts and Figures of American Cancer Society (ACS), cancer is the cause for more deaths than AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis (TB) combined. Chronic diseases, according to a report placed at the World Economic Forum, are among one of the three greatest risks to the global economy.

According to the ACS, only cancer takes the greatest global financial toll, among all other diseases. Currently 63% of cancer-related deaths occur in developing countries and it will increase up to 82% by 2030. Sixty three per cent of global death is responsible for NCDs, while only 3.0% of global developmental assistance is allocated for NCD prevention. Eighty per cent of global cancer burden is occurring in developing countries, while 5.0% resources are spent are spending in such countries for cancer prevention. There is an imbalanced situation worldwide, more particularly so in the developing countries, when considered in the context of the NCDs burden versus resources available for their prevention.

Worldwide, the incidence of cancer and other NCDs is on the rise. That is why this is a global issue. In this context, it has been a great initiative in the history of the United Nations (UN) that it is going to hold a high-level meeting on September 19 and 20, 2011 in New York city at its head quarters. The UN General Assembly is the main decision-making body on issues of principles for the UN. It is there that all the UN member-countries have decided to organise the UN NCD summit to focus global attention and agree, on an action plan to address the problem of NCDs. After the opening speech by the President and the Secretary General of the UN, and the presentation by the Director General (DG) of the WHO, the working sessions of summit will start on September 19. Some of the country-head of delegations are also expected to address the opening session of the conference. Then three round-table sessions will be held where three different issues will focus on. These issues include:

1. The rising incidence, developmental and other challenges, social and economic impact of NCDs and their risk factors;

2. Strengthening national capacities as well as appropriate policies to address prevention and control of NCDs;

3. Fostering international cooperation as well as coordination to address NCDs

This high-level meeting will discuss and develop the strategies to address the rising rate of NCD-related death worldwide. It is expected to focus action at many levels through multi-sectoral approaches, and to generate global commitment and momentum.

The NCD is a big burden for Bangladesh, too. According to the WHO fact sheet on NCDs, such diseases account for 70% death cases -- including 30% on account of hearth diseases and stroke and 13%, cancer. Tobacco consumption is the most common cause for the increase of NCDs in Bangladesh. According to WHO study in 2004, tobacco consumption is responsible for eight major NCDs (including cancer, stroke, heart disease, diabetics etc) among 1.2 million people in Bangladesh. A total of 3,82,000 patients lost their physical activeness and 57 thousand cases of death occurred.

While the number of deaths has further increased as the rate of tobacco consumption and also the number of people, in absolute terms, who are used to its consumption, have increased in recent years. In addition, the use of alcohol and other drugs, eating of unhealthy diet and food, physical inactivity etc., are other common causes for the increasing incidence of NCDs.

Now we need to focus more on prevention of non-communicable diseases (NCD) and the UN summit on NCD is a way to focus on inter-related issues globally. Prime Minister Sheik Hasina will join the UN NCD summit.

There is the opportunity for Bangladesh to play an active and leading role at this high level meeting - the UN summit on NCDs. This may facilitate greater international support and cooperation in areas of action for preventing NCD and ensure availability of developmental assistance for the purpose in the future.

Political Commitment Needed for UN High-evel Meeting on NCDs

Political commitment needed for UN High-level Meeting on NCDs

A Political Declaration of the High-level Meeting (HLM) will determine the course of action over the next years for nations to address the NCD epidemic.  Negotiations on this Declaration stalled on 5th August and will be resumed on 1st September.  We are concerned that UN Member States were unable to come to consensus on key points, such as specific commitments on tobacco taxation and access to vaccines, as well as follow-up mechanisms.

While the Political Declaration states clearly what is needed, it contains weak language in commitments to specific actions to address the world's main killers. We have until 1st September to encourage decision-makers not to waste the unique opportunity of the HLM and take action to save lives and decrease suffering across the world.

We need strong language and political commitment to this Declaration to make sure that the High Level Meeting establishes that NCDs are monitored, evaluated and followed-up. The American Cancer Society has asked Secretary Clinton at the U.S. Department of State and Secretary Sebelius in the Department of Health and Human Services to strengthen the language in this Declaration.

 Call To Action

Over the next week, we call on you - civil society, media, thought leaders - to ask your national governments to ask for strong commitments to: 

• Accelerate implementation of the FCTC, using the full range of options including increased taxation and efforts to reduce consumption and availability
• Recognize that substantially reducing tobacco consumption is the most achievable action to reduce NCDs bringing dramatic health and economic benefits for individuals and countries.
• Support increased access to cancer vaccines and screening for breast and cervical cancer.
• Establish time-bound global targets on NCDs
• Support a high-level coordinating mechanism for action on NCDs through effective partnership
• Call for a high-level comprehensive review in 2014

 The NCD Political Declaration needs to contain measurable and time-bound commitments, that establish a clear roadmap on how the world is going to turn the tide on this epidemic.

Tweets to Heads of State

We also request your help in advocating for your Head of State or Government to attend the High level Meeting. Political Commitment is demonstrated most clearly by the presence of the highest political figure in each country. This is their opportunity to lead on an issue of national and global importance.

A Sample Tweet could be:  @InsertHeadofState will you attend historic 1st UN High-level Mtg on chronic diseases Sept. 19 & 20 #NCDs #save36millionlives

We need action now to influence this historic opportunity. Please do your part.

Thank you for your ongoing support.

Nathan Grey, MPH National Vice President for Global Health

 

 

 



Nigeria Reinforces ACS-Driven Global Media Coverage of NCDs and Tobacco as the Leading Risk Factor

The Nation

Olayinka Olegbile

Cancer:  A Battle on the Front Burner 

Lagos, Nigeria — In the past, cancer, diabetes and a few other non communicable diseases (NCDs) used to be regarded as diseases of the affluent and the West. However, recent researches have revealed a new trend. The diseases have crossed the ‘borders’. New parts of the world have become vulnerable due to changes in lifestyles, advent of technology, changing environment and other risk factors.

For instance, it has become easier to change television channels and adjust volume levels while wrapped in the warmth of one’s bed, sofa or even while in the bathtub. Thanks to technology, you no longer have to walk up to the TV set to do that. As much as technology has aided humanity it has also spun several other things and changed the way the world does its things. The result of the near sedentary life that people now live is that NCDs have continued to fester. Rather than walk, cycle or jog, people now hop into automobiles; remote- controlled television, radio, cars and other fads have become the new way of life. People no longer eat well cooked food; they have turned to fast foods and carbonated drinks. All these, according to experts, contribute to the rise of non- communicable diseases.

The need to call attention to this led the American Cancer Society (ACS) in June to host a meeting of cancer survivors, non-governmental organisations and journalists. Participants were drawn from about 50 countries of the world as a prelude to the September United Nations (UN) High Level Meeting on NCDs at the United Nations. The ACS explained the motive for the theme of the meeting which was: We can, We should, We will conquer Cancer. According to Alessandra Durstine, its Vice President, Regional Strategies, it was an opportunity to put under scrutiny "the importance of cancer control and to give a global voice to those affected by cancer and other NCDs."

In a report to the 66th General Assembly, the Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon who described NCDs as "a rising epidemic" had warned that "of the 57 million global deaths in 2008, 36 million, or 63 percent, were due to non-communicable diseases, principally cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancers and chronic respiratory diseases. Total deaths from non-communicable diseases are projected to rise to 52 million in 2030. The rapidly growing magnitude of such diseases is driven in part by population ageing, the negative impact of urbanisation and globalisation of trade and marketing.

However, despite this frightening growing statistics of NCDs, world leaders have not paid enough attention to it as much as is done to polio, HIV and AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. This, according to Nathan Grey, National Vice President of ACS, is intolerable. He called for a change of direction and focus, adding that "cancer is still under reported and underfunded," especially in the developing world where it has become big threat and it is becoming a pandemic.

At the forum, various forms of cancer survivors gave testimonies of their treatments and survival. They were stories of valiant hopes and determination which were meant to convince world leaders that there was an urgent need to make useful provision for the diagnoses and treatment of cancer and other NCDs. Nigeria was represented by three Cancer Ambassadors: Princess Nikky Onyeri, who is the founder of Nikky Breast Cancer Foundation, Seun Akioye, an anti-tobacco activist with the Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN) and Oluwakemi Oyegbile, a breast cancer survivor.

Beyond the statistics given by various experts at the meeting, it was heart lifting to listen to the stories of the survivors and see the glow of hope and determination in their eyes as they called on world leaders to pay attention to cancer in their countries. Mrs. Oyegbile in narrating her experience said a few years ago when her doctor diagnosed her and told her she had breast cancer, she felt bad, "It was really traumatic. I asked Why me? Is this the end? I felt terrible and worried thinking it was the end of my life. I cried the whole day and wondered what I’ve done wrong to deserve this? I asked God why he allowed this to happen to me. I was distressed and felt very bad."

Getting treatment and prescribed drugs was tough and expensive. She had to travel to Ibadan, Oyo State from Lagos on a weekly basis. In fact, at a point it was twice a week. This, according to her, took a heavy toll on her family life, health and finances. In an interview with the UN Radio in New York, she explained that the toughest part of the experience was "Going through mastectomy. Going through the treatment was another ordeal; the chemotherapy, radiotherapy and all were stressful. I had to spend a lot to undergo the treatment. However, I was happy that my own was in situ, meaning it could be treated. It served as a source of hope that it could be treated."

Stories such as hers were the anchor which the meeting hoped to use to build momentum to make world leaders who will be meeting at the UN headquarters in September to take the treatment of cancer and other non-communicable diseases more seriously. The Nigerian delegation which later met with the country’s Permanent Representative at the UN, Prof Joy Ogwu, enlisted her support to ensure that President Goodluck Jonathan attends the meeting and ensure that the country puts the issue of NCDs on the front burner.

Prof Ogwu said cancer was not strange to her. She understands the havoc it does owing to the fact that her own father died of cancer. She pledged her support for the crusade and promised that she would try her best to support the cause. Prominent Nigerians who have been felled by cancer include Chief Gani Fawehinmi, Sonny Okosuns, Tina Onwudiwe and Yinka Craig.

In demonstration of how important the UN takes the issue, the deputy secretary general, Dr. Asha-Rose Migiro, enjoined journalists to help in spreading the word to all about the importance of changing lifestyles and correcting myths while discrediting misconceptions. In emphasising the importance of the media, she said, "The media is critical to any public health campaign. This is especially true for non-communicable diseases. Because there are so many myths that need to be corrected. And there are, at times, forces behind those myths trying to hide the truth." She called on the media to keep people informed and aware of the risk factors of the NCDs.

Dr. Migiro added, "Unlike sicknesses caused by a mosquito, a virus or an infection, NCDs are linked to factors like food, tobacco, environmental pollution and a lack of exercise. A major part of our campaign will be to promote exercise, reduce excessive consumption of alcohol and cut the use of tobacco products." She called on governments around the world to rise up to the occasion by encouraging healthy habits among the citizenry through their policies.

David Bloom, a professor of economics and demography at Harvard University, USA, in calculating the cost of NCDs said it "will evolve into a staggering economic burden in the coming years. It’s a huge impediment to the mitigation of poverty." According to him, over $300 billion was spent in 2010 to treat cancer while obstructive pulmonary disease, which is often linked with smoking tobacco, costs the world $400 billion a year. In his contribution, Cary Adams of the Union for International Cancer Control warned that people were "getting fatter, lazier, smoking too much tobacco, and eating unhealthy food." He called for a change of attitude to stem the growth of cancer and other non-communicable diseases.

John Seffrin, the chief executive officer of the ACS, the conveners of the summit said, "It is the poorest people in the poorest nations that suffer the most," adding that more than 80 percent of non-communicable diseases occur in low and middle-income countries

With this grim picture, is Africa prepared for what is ahead? Onyeri who runs a cancer foundation in Abuja is of the opinion that "too much attention has been focused on such other diseases like HIV and AIDS and malaria to the detriment of such other killer diseases like cancer, diabetes, heart diseases otherwise known as NCDs. However, as we build on education and awareness, l know that this story will change especially with the attention that the UN High Level Summit on NCDs will bring to bear on countries’ activities towards NCDs."

As world leaders prepare to meet on this crucial health issue in September, all eyes and hopes would be on them to bring succour to NCD patients. 

Argentina Reinforces Global News Coverage of "We Can, We Should, We Will Conquer Cancer"

“Una mujer es mucho más que sus pechos”

El Litoral.com, Argentina

MARIANA RIVERA.

La Dra. Felicia Knaul nació en Toronto, Canadá, y obtuvo su doctorado en Economía en la Universidad de Harvard.

 

El estigma que traen aparejadas algunas enfermedades sobre las personas que las padecen -como el cáncer- es uno de los motivos por los cuales “de eso no se habla”. Esta patología es considerada “una condena de muerte” por muchos, desconociendo que puede ser prevenida y que se puede vivir con ella y ser un sobreviviente.

El cáncer junto a otras dolencias -como la diabetes, las enfermedades cardiovasculares y la insuficiencia respiratoria crónica- son consideradas por la Organización Mundial de la Salud como Enfermedades No Transmisibles (ENTs, o Non-Communicable Diseases, Enfermedades No Comunicables, NCDs por sus siglas en inglés).

Sin embargo, Felicia Knaul -economista de salud, directora de la Iniciativa de Equidad Global de la Universidad de Harvard, Estados Unidos, y sobreviviente de cáncer de mama- dejó un mensaje clave para desmitificar este tema.

Haciendo un juego de palabras, esta docente -quien fuera directora del Centro de Análisis Social y Económico de la Fundación Mexicana para la Salud (FUNSALUD)- propuso que “las NCDs no deberían ser enfermedades que no se pueden comunicar. Por el contrario, necesitamos hablar de ellas todo el tiempo para poder prevenirlas. La propuesta es que comiencen a ser llamadas ‘New Challenge’s Diseases’ (enfermedades con nuevos desafíos); se debe hacer este cambio en nuestra sociedad”.

Felicia Knaul -autora del libro “Tómatelo a pecho”, editado por Santillana- ofreció una conferencia a más de 40 periodistas -provenientes de 44 países del mundo- que fueron convocados para participar de una actividad realizada del 18 al 21 de junio pasado en la ciudad de Nueva York, Estados Unidos, organizada por la Sociedad Americana de Cáncer (American Cancer Society, ACS, por sus siglas en inglés).

We can, we should, we will conquer cancer (Podemos, debemos, vamos a conquistar el cáncer) era el lema de este evento de campaña, en el que también se capacitaron integrantes de organizaciones de la sociedad civil de todo el mundo, quienes fueron denominados Embajadores Globales del Cáncer.

Fue el último paso previo a la Reunión de la Asamblea General de Alto Nivel para la Prevención y el Control de Enfermedades No Transmisibles que tendrá las Naciones Unidas el 19 y 20 de septiembre próximos, organismo que deberá encarar acciones concretas en todo el mundo para poder prevenir y controlar estas patologías.

EMPODERAMIENTO

En 2007, Felicia Knaul fue diagnosticada con cáncer de mama y sometida a múltiples cirugías, incluyendo la mastectomía (remoción de ambos senos). Lo vivido la movilizó y la llevó a comenzar un proyecto a nivel nacional de detección temprana para el cáncer de mama en México, con el apoyo del Instituto Carlos Slim de la Salud, que desde mediados de 2010 es una asociación civil sin fines de lucro

En diálogo con Nosotros sobre este tema, insistió en que “la detección temprana es la clave y hay que combatir contra algunas barreras como el machismo, la falta de confianza en nosotros mismos, la falta de creencia de que hay una solución, que nos podemos curar y que podemos vivir con la enfermedad. Hay que insistir con la detección temprana para evitar los costos de esta enfermedad”.

Tras admitir que “lo que me abrió los ojos en cuanto a esta enfermedad fue mi experiencia personal en cáncer de mama, que relato en mi libro”, aclaró que “mi enfermedad fue una llamada de atención. El cáncer de mama es la segunda causa de muerte entre las mujeres jóvenes de nuestros países de la región. Sabemos -pero no entendemos por qué- las mujeres que están teniendo cáncer de mama son alrededor de 10 años más jóvenes. Este tipo de cáncer ha sobrepasado en número a muchas enfermedades, incluyendo el cáncer cérvico-uterino”.

Y agregó: “Respetando el hecho de que las NCDs son un tema que la gente conoce, no tenemos que decir que significa algo que no podemos comunicar, sino sobre lo que hay que hablar. Por eso, estamos empezando a decir New Challenge’s Diseases. Tenemos que verlas como un nuevo desafío para los sistemas de salud enfocados en la cronicidad”.

HABLAR Y HABLAR

Por otra parte, esta menuda señora -mamá de Hannah Sofía y Mariana Havivah- comentó que “soy economista de formación pero trabajo en sistemas de salud, adonde se habla bastante del tema. Pero donde hay un silencio preocupante es a nivel de la mujer y la comunidad. Todavía y, aun después de charlas que doy sobre la importancia de la detección temprana, muchas mujeres me dicen que no se chequean y que no quieren saber (si tienen esta enfermedad) porque si ocurre algo -dicen- las abandonan, sus parejas las dejan. Hay estigma, hay un problema de machismo”.

Y continuó dando su testimonio en este sentido: “Lo que hemos trabajado en pareja con Julio (Frenk, su esposo, quien fue el titular de la Secretaría de Salud durante la presidencia mexicana de Vicente Fox entre 2000 y 2006) es la parte del estigma, ya que una mujer es mucho más que sus pechos. Hay que sacar esta idea de la sociedad pero, al hacerlo, estamos enfocándonos y apoyando un tema más grande: el de los derechos de la mujer, el del empoderamiento de las mujeres de la región respecto a nuestros derechos, en cuanto a la salud pero también a ser mujeres; nuestro derecho de vivir una vida”.

Por último y en referencia a su libro “Tomátelo a pecho”, planteó que “en México significa que (el cáncer de mama) es algo serio, que es un tema que debe ser tomado en serio. Lo bautizó así mi marido, a quien le gusta mucho este juego de palabras y el idioma. Es sobre nuestra experiencia como familia y la mía viviendo con la enfermedad en la región. Está escrito en castellano porque nos dimos cuenta de que hay muy poco escrito en español sobre este tema, ya que hay mucho en inglés. Fue publicado por la Editorial Santillana y está a disposición de las mujeres de la región. Las regalías están destinadas a la investigación y el trabajo sobre cáncer de mama”.

 http://www.ellitoral.com/index.php/diarios/2011/07/09/nosotros/NOS-09.html

Colombia Joins Global News Coverage of "We Can, We Should, We Will Conquer Cancer"

Las Enfermedades Crónicas no Transmisibles : Una preocupación mundial

Un saludo de Colombia
Martha Lucia Díaz Rivera

Las Enfermedades No Transmisibles (ENT) representan el 60% de las muertes anuales en el mundo y asimismo el 46% de estas muertes son “prematuras” es decir ocurren en personas menores de los 70 años y el 25% en personas con menos de 60 años. Esto representa 35 millones de muertes en el mundo, de las cuales  28 millones ocurren en países menos desarrollados. La Organización Mundial de la Salud calcula que entre el 2006 y el 2015 las muertes por estas enfermedades se incrementarán en un 17%.

 Así lo señalaron los especialistas de la Sociedad Americana de Cáncer durante el encuentro que se realizo en Nueva York del 18 al 20 de Junio , que contó con representantes de la sociedad civil y periodistas de 40 países, quienes vinieron a ser escuchados por el Comité  de Salud de las Naciones Unidas para luego volver a sus países y sensibilizar a sus gobiernos sobre este tema.

La decisión final de incluir estas enfermedades en la Asamblea General de las Naciones Unidas se tomará en Septiembre 19 del 2011, como única oportunidad para que la comunidad internacional tome acción frente a esta epidemia y se salven millones de vidas en el mundo.

Hasta el momento se había dado prioridad a las enfermedades transmisibles como el sida o la malaria, pero las estadísticas señalan que hay un mayor número de muertes por cáncer, enfermedades respiratorias, diabetes y enfermedades cardiovasculares.

Se trata de un movimiento mundial liderado por la Sociedad Americana de Cáncer, el cuál se ha propuesto luchar contra la muerte, la enfermedad y la discapacidad prematura.

La finalidad de esta alianza es cooperar a nivel nacional, regional y local para promover y apoyar planes para prevenir y controlar las Enfermedades No Transmisibles, lograr estilos de vida adecuados, promover sistemas de salud equitativos,  establecer el acceso a medicamentos asequibles y medicinas de buena calidad y contribuir a lograr un mundo libre de tabaco, logrando además el respeto de los derechos humanos de las personas con Enfermedades No Transmisibles.

Una de las primeras actividades de esta alianza será promover acciones para que en la Cumbre de Alto Nivel de las Naciones Unidas se incluya la lucha por la prevención y control de las ENT a los objetivos del Milenio, específicamente para la reducción de la pobreza, la equidad en salud, la estabilidad económica y la seguridad humana.

A esta Cumbre de Alto Nivel deberá asistir la máxima autoridad política de nuestro gobierno colombiano, a fin de reforzar y continuar su importante rol como promotor y propulsor de esta iniciativa.

Representantes de la OMS que asistieron a este encuentro en Nueva York, proponen el plan 2008-2013 para la Prevención y el Control de Enfermedades Crónicas no Transmisibles.

Entre los propósitos planteados está reducir el grado de exposición de las personas con enfermedades no transmisibles como el consumo de tabaco, dieta malsana, inactividad física y uso nocivo del alcohol, optando por alternativas más sanas que propicien la buena salud.

La mayoría de las Enfermedades No Transmisibles están relacionadas con algunos factores de riesgo comunes y más del 80% de las Enfermedades Cardiovasculares, la Diabetes y más del 30% de algunos cánceres podrían ser evitados eliminando el consumo de tabaco, optando por una dieta saludable y controlando el uso nocivo del alcohol, señaló el  Doctor John Seffrin, Director de la Sociedad Americana de Cáncer.

Por parte del gobierno colombiano asistieron representantes de la Liga contra el Cáncer,  la Fundación Amese y los periodistas, quienes tienen la misión de promover que Colombia participe en esta gran jornada mundial contra las Enfermedades No Transmisibles.

Durante este encuentro en Nueva York también fueron invitados pacientes con cáncer de diversos lugares del mundo, quienes compartieron sus testimonios y celebraron la gran fiesta de los sobrevivientes con la Sociedad Americana de Cáncer. Señaló el Dr. John Sefrin, de la Sociedad Americana de Cáncer, que las pruebas genéticas en tumores como el de seno son efectivas para definir si la paciente requiere quimioterapia y  saber el grado en que se encuentra el tumor.

En Estados Unidos se acaba de tomar la decisión de usar etiquetas gráficas de advertencia para comunicar los peligros del uso del cigarrillo, una modalidad que nació en Canadá y se ha extendido a muchísimos países con excelentes resultados para reducir el consumo del cigarrillo en la población.

http://www.redescolombia.org/noticia/las-enfermedades-cr%C3%B3nicas-no-transmisibles-%3A-una-preocupaci%C3%B3n-mundial

Nigeria Joins Global News Coverage of "We Can, We Should, We Will Conquer Cancer" with Report Noting Cancer Survivors and Experts are Helping to Set the Agenda for World Leaders

Lagos, Nigeria —  Ahead of the United Nations high-level meeting on Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) slated for September, the American Cancer Society (ACS) hosted cancer survivors, cancer control advocates and experts in New York, United States, where they decided that cancer must be fought at the highest level of government, if the world is to be saved, writes Assistant Editor (News)

OLUKOREDE YISHAU 

Princess Nikky Onyeri was  in New York, United States to tell the world that cancer is not a death sentence. In 1993, she was at a clinic in Nigeria to have medical check-up. The doctor simply had a feel of her left breast and pronounced she had only six months to live, having been inflicted with cancer. 

After a second opinion in the United Kingdom, she realised that the situation was not as bad as the Nigerian doctor had painted it. She only had a benign cyst.  After a year in the UK, she got over the cyst and returned home. 

In New York, she joined many other cancer survivors from some 50 countries who went to the United Nations to call for a radical shift in the global body’s commitment to taming cancer.

Onyeri, who, in the last 15 years, has been committed to increasing awareness about cancer, believes that the global leaders’ high-level meeting on Non-communicable Diseases (NCDs) in September must boost the fight against NCDs, such as cancer. That was why she, Oluwakemi Oyegbile, another cancer survivor and Seun Akioye, a cancer control advocate, met last Monday with Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Prof. Joy Ogwu, to discuss the need for the country to be more committed to the fight against NCDs. 

She said: “Cancer is not a killer disease. With the United Nations High-level Meeting in New York in September  2011, it is my sincere hope that women who suffer from cancer will receive attention in the outcome document that will be released at the end of the session.’’ 

Onyeri and over 80 other cancer surivors, journalists and cancer control advocates were flown into New York by the American Cancer Society (ACS),  as part of its well-coordinated efforts to persuade world leaders to quell NCDs. 

The ACS took this decision because of the fact that cancer is ravaging both wealthy and developing countries, and accounts for more deaths than tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS.

The ACS, in a report made available during the New York sessions, said almost 80 per cent of the world’s deaths from NCDs occur in developing countries. In China and India, such NCDs are rapidly emerging as major health challenges, fuelled by lifestyles and diets change.

The incidence of cancer in low-income countries shows the ACS report is expected to rise by 82 per cent by 2030. The expected rise in richer countries is 40 per cent. 

“The costs of doing nothing increase as non-communicable diseases rise, overwhelming resource-poor health systems and slowing economic growth,” the report indicates. The ACS cites the World Economic Forum (WEF) report, which shows that NCDs are among the three greatest risks to the global economy because of the escalating cost of care, the threat to productivity from death and lingering disease and the impoverishing impact on families. 

Sadly, noted the report, less than three per cent of global health aid is directed at preventing and treating non-communicable diseases. Another sad tale: though developing countries bear 80 per cent of the global cancer burden, only about five per cent of the money spent worldwide on cancer goes to the developing world. 

Jordanian Princess Dina Mired, while addressing journalists and cancer survivors at New York’s plush Pierre Restaurant, described the situation as “cancer genocide.” She said gone were the days when cancer ‘’passed unnoticed’’ as the disease of the rich. She said all must act to address the cancer epidemic.

Speaking, Nobel Laureate Dr Harold Varmus said there is an urgent need to tackle cancer and other NCDs in a global effort, because of the many unanswered questions about cancer and its link with infectious diseases such as tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS and malaria. 

Varmus, who is director of America’s National Cancer Institute, said a lot of hope is also being placed in medical advances and the increasing availability of cheap cancer drugs that were once beyond the reach of the developing world. 

Director of the Institute of Public Health at Georgia State University, Prof. Michael Eriksen, called for stiffer tobacco control measures as a way of fighting NCDs. 

He said: “Smoking is all about image and cigarette packages represent extremely powerful images just like traditional marketing used to. Plain packaging is still a long way off in the US because of the power of the tobacco industry. But sometime in the future, it will eventually become the norm.”

Eriksen’s observation makes sense when juxtaposed with the fact that of the many countries that have ratified the World Health Organisation (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), less than 10 per cent has domestic tobacco-control policy. 

Nigeria is awaiting the assent of President Goodluck Jonathan to the National Tobacco Control Bill, which is the domestication of the FCTC. 

United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Dr. Asha-Rose Migiro said raising awareness is the economical way to fight cancer and other NCDs. She urged governments, the private sector, the academia and scientists to join forces against this deadly scourge.

Migiro spoke at the UN secretariat, New York last week Monday during a Media Forum on NCDs, organised by the ACS and the UN Department of Public Information, for the reporters who participated in the pre-UN High-level September meeting.

She said without all stakeholders joining forces, the fight against NCDs cannot be won.

Migiro said: “Unlike sicknesses caused by a mosquito, a virus or an infection, NCDs are linked to factors like food, tobacco, environmental pollution and a lack of exercise. These may sound like matters of individual habits. After all, people can decide for themselves whether they smoke or drink too much or whether they fail to get exercise or over-eat. Changing individual’s habits is essential, yes. A major part of our campaign will be to promote exercise, reduce excessive consumption of alcohol and cut the use of tobacco products. But this is not only a campaign for individuals. 

“Governments can take decisions that reward and encourage healthy habits. Equally, they can raise the financial cost of unhealthy habits. Governments can also strengthen healthcare for people with NCDs. They can fund research. Academics and scientists can foster progress. And the private sector can make sure that, while they pursue profits, they also protect health. Companies can adjust formulas of their foods to include better ingredients and ban those that are known to be harmful. Companies can also act responsibly when marketing products to children. And all of us can take measures to keep harmful chemicals out of our environment. Raising awareness is a simple and economical way to prevent NCDs.”

She added that the bulk of new cases of NCDs can be prevented if the main risk factors such as tobacco use, excessive consumption of alcohol, unhealthy diets and lack of exercise can be checked.

Migiro condemned the impression that NCDs are illnesses of the rich, saying Africa has the highest rate of people living with raised blood pressure and that poor countries suffer 80 per cent of the NCD death toll. 

Migiro said the UN High-level meeting on NCDs slated for September will provide the needed political will to fight the diseases. “We at the United Nations are strongly committed to doing everything we can to help,” she said.   

The commitment Migiro spoke about, according to ACS’s National Vice President, Nathan Grey, had been lacking. He said policy makers and governments have largely ignored cancer and other NCDs.

He said: “While we have made and continued to make progress against diseases that were termed incurable at some time, cancer is still under reported and underfunded. The percentage of public and private health funding of cancer in low and middle income countries is just 5 percent.” 

No wonder, ACS’s Vice President of Regional Strategies Alessandra Durstine said the United Nations High Level Meeting provides “an incredible opportunity to put the spotlight on the importance of cancer control and to give a global voice to those affected by cancer and other non communicable diseases.”

The world is waiting with anxiously to see what happens during and after the UN High-level Meeting on NCDs next September. 

Argentina Joins Global News Coverage of "We Can, We Should, We Will Conquer Cancer"

Llamado mundial para combatir las enfermedades no transmisibles

El Litoral, Argentina

MARIANA RIVERA

Cáncer, enfermedades cardiovasculares, insuficiencia respiratoria crónica y diabetes son patologías que han sido ignoradas en la agenda mundial sobre salud, a pesar de que son la principal causa de muertes en el mundo. Sin embargo, se vienen encarando acciones para que Naciones Unidas les dé una solución urgente, ya que se pueden prevenir, detectar a tiempo y tratar oportunamente.

La cena de gala organizada por la American Cancer Society concluyó con el festejo de los cumpleaños de los sobrevivientes del cáncer.

La prevención es la herramienta más efectiva que tenemos para reducir el cáncer, las enfermedades cardiovasculares, la diabetes y la insuficiencia respiratoria crónica, que son conocidas como Enfermedades No Transmisibles (ENTs o Non-Communicable Diseases, NCDs, por sus siglas en inglés).

Por este motivo, más de 70 integrantes de organizaciones de la sociedad civil -a quienes denominaron Embajadores Globales del Cáncer- y 40 periodistas de 44 países se capacitaron sobre estos temas durante una actividad realizada del 18 al 21 de junio pasado en la ciudad de Nueva York, Estados Unidos. We can, we should, we will conquer cancer (Podemos, debemos, vamos a conquistar el cáncer) era el lema del evento de campaña organizado por la Sociedad Americana de Cáncer (American Cancer Society, ACS, por sus siglas en inglés).

Se trató del último paso previo a la Reunión de la Asamblea General de Alto Nivel para la Prevención y el Control de Enfermedades No Transmisibles que tendrá las Naciones Unidas el 19 y 20 de septiembre próximos.

Esta reunión será una oportunidad clave para que los jefes de Estado, ministros y otros representantes gubernamentales que participen -además de integrantes de la sociedad civil (ONGs, el sector privado y el académico), aunque en un número limitado- centren su atención en la importancia de la lucha contra el cáncer y estas otras enfermedades y de dar una voz a los denominados sobrevivientes.

Por eso, tras ser capacitados, los Embajadores Globales de Cáncer -incluyendo cuatro de Argentina- mantuvieron una reunión con las misiones de cada país participante en la ONU para justificar este pedido y su tratamiento urgente.

Llevaron información precisa (por ejemplo, que tenemos el conocimiento y las herramientas para prevenir más de la mitad de todos los nuevos casos de cáncer y las muertes por esta causa a nivel mundial) pero -sobre todo- dando sus testimonios como sobrevivientes del cáncer o como personas que trabajan en la sociedad con ellos.

Plantearon que se necesita comunicar sobre este tema para que esté en la agenda mundial y que el estigma y el dolor de la gente que padece estas enfermedades son otras de las razones por las cuales hay una urgencia por tratar estos temas.

La intención de esta reunión realizada en Nueva York fue demostrar que se pueden hacer cambios duraderos que afectarán a millones de personas en las generaciones venideras; que “podemos marcar una diferencia y no es simple retórica”, como plantearon los organizadores.

ENORME OPORTUNIDAD

Según se anticipó, se pretende que en la reunión de alto nivel de septiembre se encuentren estrategias en común para tratar estas enfermedades. Participarán los políticos más jerárquicos de los países miembro, es decir que no se debatirá el tema a nivel de ministros de Salud. No será un foro para debatir sino que se aspira a que se decida qué acciones se van a encarar en todo el mundo para controlarlas. Respecto a los recursos que se destinarán para estas actividades, se adelantó que se solicitará colaboración internacional.

Los participantes deberán redactar un documento en donde constará el compromiso político para tratar este tema, además de las recomendaciones de los países miembro. Deberán ser propuestas medibles y aplicables, en donde conste una fuerte participación de la sociedad civil y el compromiso de la atención pública a través de los medios de comunicación.

Se habló de que se trata de una oportunidad “once-in-a-generation” (única en una generación) para que el cáncer y las otras enfermedades no transmisibles sean incluidas en la agenda global de salud, ya que éstas influyen en la economía de los países que las padecen -principalmente, los de menores recursos- y su desarrollo.

Ocurre que estas enfermedades y sus factores de riesgo (tabaco, alcohol, inactividad física y dieta poco saludable) están estrechamente relacionados con la pobreza y la inequidad (menor acceso a tratamientos médicos de calidad) y contribuyen al subdesarrollo.

DATOS QUE ALARMAN

Y las cifras que se dieron a conocer fueron más que contundentes: el 63% de las muertes en el mundo se producen por estas enfermedades; el cáncer representa más muertes en el mundo que el VIH/Sida, la malaria y la tuberculosis juntas; casi el 80% de estos fallecimientos ocurre en países de medianos y bajos recursos; el 90% de las personas que mueren por las ENT tiene menos de 60 años, vive en países en desarrollo y economías de transición; y la mayoría de estas muertes podría haberse evitado.

Y esto trae como consecuencia otro dato preocupante: en estas poblaciones no se están logrando los Objetivos de Desarrollo del Milenio (ODM) propuestos también por Naciones Unidas, en particular el referido a la erradicación del hambre y la pobreza extrema, la reducción de la mortalidad infantil, el mejoramiento de la salud materna y la lucha contra el VIH/Sida, la malaria y otras enfermedades.

Los ODM son una iniciativa de carácter global creada en 2000 a partir de la Declaración del Milenio en las Naciones Unidas firmada por 189 países. La Declaración del Milenio identifica preocupaciones, valores y principios relacionados con el desarrollo.

Cabe aclarar que se realizaron eventos previos a este encuentro del mes de junio para redactar este pedido a los jefes de Estado y otros políticos que se reunirán en septiembre. Se hicieron consultas regionales para armar un borrador del documento que deberá ser considerado en la reunión de alto nivel de Naciones Unidas de septiembre. Participaron en diferentes eventos pero también debatiendo en conjunto organizaciones de la sociedad civil, ministros de Salud de 150 países y otros delegados.

HECHO HISTÓRICO

Durante el encuentro se insistió en que la reunión de septiembre será un hecho histórico ya que -por segunda vez en su historia- las Naciones Unidas decidió considerar un tema de salud. Hace diez años, el VIH/Sida fue incorporado en su agenda y en esta oportunidad serán tenidas en cuenta las enfermedades no transmisibles, patologías cuyos factores de riesgo pueden ser modificados.

También se advirtió que se espera un rápido crecimiento de las enfermedades no transmisibles debido al envejecimiento de la población y a los cambios de comportamiento asociados al desarrollo, incluyendo el aumento del uso del tabaco y la adopción de dietas ricas en calorías pero nutricionalmente deficientes.

Por último, se destacó que las Naciones Unidas normalmente no trabaja con temas de salud y sólo lo comenzó a hacer porque surgían cuestiones con impacto social y medioambiental. No obstante cabe aclarar que cuenta con un organismo específico (la Organización Mundial de la Salud), con sede en Ginebra, Suiza, que establece pautas sobre la temática.

Entonces, esta reunión de Naciones Unidas deberá advertir que las acciones que se puedan encarar para prevenir las enfermedades no transmisibles -que no son las únicas que deberían ser consideradas, ya que también son importantes el VIH/Sida, la malaria o la tuberculosis, por ejemplo- redundarán en mejorar la salud de la población.

Las cifras del cáncer

• 13 millones de nuevos casos al año.

• 82% crecerá su incidencia para 2030 (más del doble de alta en países de bajos ingresos).

• 56% de los nuevos casos ocurre en países de medianos y escasos recursos.

• 7 millones de fallecimientos por esta causa (1 de cada 8).

• 63% de las muertes ocurre en países en desarrollo.

• 24,6 millones de personas viven con cáncer en todo el mundo.

• 900 millones de dólares al año deben destinarse para tratar esta enfermendad.

Los “Embajadores Globales de Cáncer” de Argentina durante la visita a Naciones Unidas con el asesor Eduardo Porretti.

El tabaco, algo en común

La Dra. Mariela Alderete, de la Fundación Interamericana del Corazón Argentina, explicó que “durante la reunión en Naciones Unidas, los Embajadores Globales de Cáncer propusimos una serie de medidas para enfrentar la crisis mundial que representan las enfermedades crónicas no transmisibles. Se solicitó que los países desarrollen acciones efectivas para luchar contra el tabaquismo, factor de riesgo común a las cuatro enfermedades crónicas (cáncer, enfermedades respiratorias, diabetes y enfermedades cardiovasculares), esencialmente que se inste a la ratificación del Convenio Marco para el Control del Tabaco y aceleren su implementación. También se solicitó que los países aumenten el acceso a medicamentos esenciales y tecnologías asequibles para el diagnóstico precoz del cáncer y otras ENTs”.

Cuatro de cada cinco personas que sufren cáncer, diabetes, enfermedades respiratorias o cardiovasculares viven en países pobres.

Por Argentina

La periodista del diario El Litoral Mariana Rivera fue seleccionada -entre otros colegas de todo el mundo- para participar en el evento We can, We should, We will conquer cancer, organizado por la American Cancer Society (ACS).

En calidad de periodista (aunque también es sobreviviente de cáncer de mama) representó a nuestro país, al igual que cuatro personas -denominados “Embajadores Globales del Cáncer”- que pertenecían a organizaciones de la sociedad civil que trabajan con pacientes que padecen enfermedades no transmisibles.

Fueron los siguientes: Irene Marcet, secretaria de Macma (Movimiento Ayuda Cáncer de Mama); Pedro Czanyo, por la Fundación Pacientes de Cáncer de Pulmón; Jorge Padín, integrante de Apostar a la Vida; y la Dra. Mariela Alderete, vicedirectora ejecutiva de la Fundación Interamericana del Corazón Argentina.

Voces de esperanza

 El denominado empoderamiento de los pacientes que padecen estas enfermedades refiere al aumento de la fortaleza espiritual, política, social o económica de estos individuos, quienes desarrollan una confianza en sus propias capacidades.

En el caso del cáncer y otras enfermedades no transmisibles, esta actitud les permite visibilizar la problemática y darle “una voz, ya que tienen algo que decir”, y mostrar la cara de estas enfermedades, su aspecto humano y no sólo las estadísticas.

Los sobrevivientes son “la cara de los que pudieron sobrevivir al cáncer; las voces de esperanza de esta enfermedad”. Según se explicó en el evento, la estigmatización de su enfermedad es contraproducente para estos pacientes y si pueden compartir su experiencia y se empoderan pasarán el proceso de su enfermedad con éxito.

- Irene Marcet, Movimiento Ayuda Cáncer de Mama (Macma): “Hace 6 años me diagnosticaron cáncer de mama. A mí, que me hacía todos los controles y que equivocadamente creía que no me podía pasar; se me cayó el mundo encima. En ese momento, nunca pensé que la vida me iba a dar esta oportunidad de poder colaborar -aunque sea con un granito de arena- a esta gran movida que intentamos hacer para que el mundo sea un mejor lugar para vivir.

Me hizo muy feliz que me nombraran Embajadora Global del Cáncer. Me dio la oportunidad de abrir mi mente y conocer historias de vida que ni imaginaba, carencias de muchos hermanos de nuestro país y del mundo.

Esto hizo que el deseo de comprometerme y ayudar en esta causa me saliera del alma. La American Cancer Society nos dio esta posibilidad y quiero aprovecharla al máximo. Nos capacitaron para poder comunicar con claridad las necesidades para un cambio global. Nos reunimos con la misión argentina en Naciones Unidas para pedir que en la reunión de alto nivel de septiembre se incluya en la agenda el tema de enfermedades no transmisibles. Esto recién empieza y hay que continuar el trabajo con esfuerzo y constancia hasta lograr que en el mundo haya mas cumpleaños (de sobrevivientes)”.

- Peter Czanyo, Fundación Pacientes de Cáncer de Pulmón: “Hace 8 años que fui diagnosticado y operado de cáncer pulmón. Son momentos que jamás se olvidan pero también los que nos permiten cambiar nuestra vida y no modificando los paisajes, sino cambiando nuestros propios ojos y la forma en que miramos al mundo y -en especial- dentro de nosotros mismos. La designación como Embajador Global de Cáncer para Argentina fue un enorme orgullo; me hizo sentir que hacer algo por los otros y para mejorar este mundo es los que nos da verdadera felicidad. Y claro que no importa que solo sea un grano de arena. Recibimos en Nueva York capitación y entrenamiento con respecto a la Asamblea que realizarán en septiembre las Naciones Unidas sobre enfermedades no transmisibles e influir en nuestros gobernantes y representantes para que las medidas que se tomen sean aquellas que la sociedad civil y los pacientes necesitan. Al día siguiente nos reunimos con la misión Argentina en la ONU para escuchar, proponer, preguntar, exigir. Si no hacemos nada, el mundo no cambia pero si abrimos nuestros corazones tal vez podamos ver este mundo como todo uno y sentir que estamos mucho mas hermanados de lo que a veces nos permitimos creer. Pienso que entre todos podemos construir un mundo mejor y solo necesitamos compromiso, entrega, responsabilidad y abrir nuestro corazón, algo que todos tenemos”.

- Jorge Padín, Fundación Apostar a la Vida: “En 1997 tuve cáncer de colon, del que fui operado y luego comencé los tratamientos oncológicos. A los seis meses se produjo metástasis en hígado muy avanzada con importante riesgo de perder mi vida. Entre tres y cinco meses era todo lo que mis médicos me auguraban. Así llegué al grupo Apostar a la Vida; sentía que me estaba muriendo.

Shockeado, abatido, angustiado, con sentimientos contradictorios, pensé encontrar en él a personas tristes y desesperanzadas. Nada de eso pasó. Me llamó la atención en ellas la actitud. Eran luchadores, gladiadores, que no se lamentaban conmigo sino que me alentaban a pelearla. Allí comencé a comprender que no tenía certezas pero sí oportunidades. Con la ayuda del grupo me puse de pie para enfrentar al cáncer contra todo pronóstico, con el objetivo de derrotarlo y ganar mi vida. Un año después me operaron del hígado (me extrajeron el 65% del órgano).

En enero de 2000, a mi querida esposa Adriana se le diagnosticó cáncer de mama, luego siguió el quirófano y tratamientos. La acompañé, estimulé y sostuve en esos momentos tan difíciles. Todo concluyó en el resultado buscado y esperado: estaba de alta.

Estando advertidos respecto a que un eventual embarazo sería muy riesgoso, nos encontramos a mediados de 2001 con la noticia que seríamos padres. Familiares, amigos, todos quienes nos rodeaban se sorprendieron y a la vez se preocuparon al igual que nosotros; temíamos los posibles riesgos que eso podría acarrear. Una médica nos sugirió abortar pero lo descartamos. Amábamos demasiado la vida y decidimos seguir luchando. El 15 de marzo de 2002 nació nuestra amada Mayra. Algún día le enseñaré los informes tenebrosos y se los regalaré, y a mis futuros nietos también les contaré como en otros tiempos luché contra una enfermedad terrible llamada cáncer, saliendo vencedor. Hoy vivo mi saludable vida y disfruto mi familia, mi hija, mis amigos y todo lo que me gusta. Fui invitado a Nueva York como Embajador Global de Cáncer. Una gran experiencia, con el renovado compromiso con la vida en la lucha contra el cáncer”.

 

http://www.ellitoral.com/index.php/diarios/2011/07/02/nosotros/NOS-07.html