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World Breast Cancer Day – 19 October 2023

How common is breast cancer?

Breast cancer accounts for 12.5% of all new annual cancer cases worldwide, making it the most common cancer in the world.  About 13% (about 1 in 8) of U.S. women are going to develop invasive breast cancer in the course of their life.

In 2023, an estimated 297,790 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to be diagnosed in U.S. women, along with 55,720 new cases of DCIS.

In 2023, an estimated 2,800 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to be diagnosed in men. A man’s lifetime risk of breast cancer is about 1 in 833.

There are currently more than 4 million women with a history of breast cancer in the United States. This includes women currently being treated and women who have finished treatment.

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among U.S. women. About 30% of all newly diagnosed cancers in women each year are breast cancer.  

Did you know?

Breast cancer incidence rates in the United States began decreasing in 2000, after increasing for the previous two decades. They dropped by 7% from 2002 to 2003 alone.

One theory is that this decrease was partially due to the reduced use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) by women after the results of a large study called the Women’s Health Initiative were published in 2002. These results suggested a connection between HRT and increased breast cancer risk. In recent years, incidence rates have increased slightly by 0.5% per year.

Breast cancer is still one of the leading causes of cancer-related death in U.S. women, second only to lung cancer.  

 

Source: Text: https://www.breastcancer.org/facts-statistics    Image: Canadian Cancer Society

International PKU Day – 28 June

What is Phenylketonuria (PKU)?

PKU is an inherited disorder, caused by a faulty gene. People with PKU are born with a deficiency of a liver enzyme called phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH). PAH is needed to process an amino acid called phenylalanine (Phe), found in foods containing protein. (Protein is made up of around 20 separate building blocks called amino acids). High protein foods include dairy products, red meat, chicken, fish, eggs, nuts, beans and lentils.

Usually, when we eat protein, it is broken down into different amino acids and used for growth, functioning and repair of the body. Because people with PKU can’t break down phenylalanine in the usual way, it builds up in the blood and damages the brain. People with PKU need phenylalanine, but only a small amount.

People with PKU cannot break down foods containing protein in the usual way. When PKU is detected early and treated with a special diet, children are able to reach their full potential.

Finding out your child has PKU always happens suddenly and unexpectedly. The news of the diagnosis is a shock. Most parents have never heard of PKU, so receiving the diagnosis can be frightening and confusing.

All babies born in most countries in Europe are tested for PKU soon after birth, usually the second or third day. A blood sample is taken from a needle prick on the heel, and the phenylalanine level is measured. If it is high, more tests are done to confirm that the baby has PKU. As soon as the diagnosis is made, the baby is given a special formula (also called a supplement) to lower the phenylalanine to a safe level.

Maintaining the diet in childhood is essential to prevent damage to the growing brain. It is recommended that the diet is continued for life.

 

 Source: Text & Image: https://www.pkuday.org/about/

World Multiple Sclerosis Day – 30 May

World Multiple Sclerosis Day on May 30th creates an opportunity to boost awareness and connect those with MS to resources and improve support systems.

#WorldMultipleSclerosisDay

As one of the most common diseases of the central nervous system, Multiple Sclerosis impacts more than 2.3 million people around the world according to the Multiple Sclerosis International Federation.  The term multiple sclerosis means “many scars,” and this term relates to the areas that appear on the brain and spinal cord after the myelin covering our nerves is damaged or dies. The damaged myelin leaves a lesion behind. These lesions are identified by an MRI when symptoms begin to appear.

The resulting symptoms vary and progress at different rates for each person diagnosed with MS. The disease is unpredictable, progressive, and challenging to diagnose. The cause is also unknown.

While there is no cure, treatments are advancing to help slow the progression of MS and reduce the symptoms. As with many conditions, education, research, and funding are necessary.

 

Source: Text: https://nationaldaycalendar.com/world-multiple-sclerosis-day-may-30/    Image: National Day

World Leprosy Day – 29 January 2023

When is World Leprosy Day 2023?

In 2023, World Leprosy Day is Sunday 29 January. World Leprosy Day always takes place on the last Sunday of January.

This date was chosen by French humanitarian, Raoul Follereau as a tribute to the life of Mahatma Gandhi, who did much work with persons affected by leprosy and died at the end of January in 1948.

What is World Leprosy Day?

World Leprosy Day takes place on the last Sunday of January each year. It is organised by organisations of people affected by leprosy and leprosy-focused NGOs, including The Leprosy Mission, and is an opportunity to lift up the voices of people affected by leprosy throughout the world.

What is the theme for World Leprosy Day 2023?

The theme for World Leprosy Day 2023 is ‘Act Now: End Leprosy’.

Why do we celebrate World Leprosy Day?

We celebrate World Leprosy Day to raise awareness of a disease that many people think does not exist anymore.

Each year there are 200,000 people diagnosed with leprosy and there are millions who are living with the damaging consequences of delayed leprosy treatment.

World Leprosy Day is an opportunity to celebrate the lives of those affected, raise awareness of the signs and symptoms of the disease, and tackle the stigma that too often surrounds leprosy. It is also an opportunity to raise money so that we can be the generation that ends leprosy transmission.

 

Source: Text (abridged) & Image: https://www.leprosymission.org/leprosy-champions/

World Amyloidosis Day – 26 octobre 2022

Amyloidosis is the name for a group of rare, serious conditions caused by a build-up of an abnormal protein called amyloid in organs and tissues throughout the body. The build-up of amyloid proteins (deposits) can make it difficult for the organs and tissues to work properly.

Source: Text: google.com

Second World Amyloidosis Day

The Amyloidosis Alliance and worldwide patients organization has created an International Day of Awareness dedicated to this rare disease, with different participating countries throughout the world.
The objective of this World Amyloidosis Day is to alert the world about the diagnostic delay that patients face, which averages 4 years.
Faster diagnoses and better quality treatment can only be achieved by more widespread knowledge of the disease.
Our campaign is aimed at all: health authorities and professionals, pharmaceutical companies, scientists, associations, etc. Let’s be the link to supporting patients and their loved ones.
Source: Text: https://www.oneamyloidosisvoice.com/    Image: Journée mondiale

International Day Against Breast Cancer – 19 October 2022

World Breast cancer Day 2022 aims at raising awareness and promoting women’s access to timely and effective control, diagnosis, and treatment.

Breast Cancer Awareness Day

Breast Cancer Awareness Day

International Breast Cancer Awareness Day is celebrated every year on October 19 to inform people about breast cancer. It accounts for nearly 30 percent of female tumors. World Breast cancer Day 2022 aims at raising awareness and promoting women’s access to timely and effective control, diagnosis, and treatment.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month 2022: What do we know?

Breast Cancer Awareness month is an international health campaign that lasts the whole month of October and is intended to increase awareness of breast cancer. The first organized effort for bringing widespread attention to breast cancer occurred as a weeklong event in the United States in October 1985.

Breast Cancer, globally, is the most common form of cancer that affects women. Reportedly, in 2018, more than two million new cases were reported worldwide. Throughout Breast Cancer Awareness Month, educational programs, science forums, and informational pamphlets are used as a means to disseminate the information to the public.

 

Source: Text (abridged): jagran josh  SHAILAJA TRIPATHI: OCT 19, 2022 09:08 IST   in https://www.jagranjosh.com/general-knowledge/international-day-against-breast-cancer

World Arthritis Day – 12 October

On October 12th of each year, World Arthritis Day spreads awareness about the most prevalent disease in the world. This awareness day highlights the need for early diagnosis and treatment.

More than 50 million adults and 300,000 children in the United States have arthritis. By the year 2040, an estimated 78 million people in the U.S. will have arthritis. About 120 million people in the European Union live with arthritis. A total of 350 million people throughout the world have the disease. Arthritis and related conditions account for more than $156 billion in lost wages and medical expenses each year. The disease also results in one million hospitalizations a year.

Arthritis is commonly known as joint inflammation. There are over 100 types of arthritis. The two most common types include osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. While there is no cure for this disease, treatments are available. Doctors prescribe painkillers, anti-inflammatory medications, and injections called corticosteroids to treat arthritis. Physical therapy and chiropractic care can also help reduce pain and inflammation. For some, surgery, such as joint replacement or joint fusion, is the only option.

Many people with arthritis also have other conditions. These conditions include heart disease and diabetes. Some people are more prone to others than having arthritis. Common risk factors include family history, age, being overweight, and previous joint injury.

Severe arthritis is debilitating as it becomes difficult to do daily tasks and enjoy activities. In some cases, the joints become twisted and deformed.

 

Source: Text & Image: https://nationaldaycalendar.com/world-arthritis-day-october-12/

 

World Hepatitis Day – 28 July

Hepatitis is inflammation of the liver tissue. Some people have no symptoms whereas others develop yellow discoloration of the skin and white of the eyes, poor appetite, vomiting, tiredness, abdominal pain, or diarrhea. (Wikipedia)

Organised and held each year on July 28th by the World Hepatitis Alliance, World Hepatitis Day draws attention to disease which, while certainly heard of by many, is not fully understood by most. Yet right now, 300 million people around the world are unaware that they’re living with viral hepatitis.

Each year, over 1.3 million people die from hepatitis, while two in every three liver cancer deaths are directly attributable to it. Using the day as the perfect opportunity to highlight this issue, charities around the world continue to find those undiagnosed people and push them towards the care they need, avoiding yet more preventable deaths.

Source: Text: www.awarenessdays.com

Viral hepatitis is a major global health threat with an estimated 296 million people living with chronic hepatitis B and 58 million people living with chronic hepatitis C worldwide in 2019. World Hepatitis Day is observed annually on July 28, the birthday of Dr. Baruch Blumberg (1925-2011). Dr. Blumberg discovered the hepatitis B virus in 1967 and two years later developed the first hepatitis B vaccine and for these achievements won the Nobel Prize.

World Hepatitis Day is one of eight official disease-specific world health days designated by the World Health Organization. The annual observance focuses attention on the huge impact of viral hepatitis infection globally – with more than 350 million people worldwide living with either chronic hepatitis B or C.

Source: Text & Image: https://www.hhs.gov/hepatitis/awareness-months-and-days/world-hepatitis-day-july-28/

 

 

World Lupus Day – 10 May

Over 1:1000 Canadian men, women and children are living with lupus and while we work towards our vision of life without lupus we want to ensure people living with lupus are living well.

Lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by inflammation in one or more parts of the body. A complex disease, it can target any tissue or organ of the body including skin, muscles, joints, blood, lungs, heart, kidneys and the brain. Men, women and children can be diagnosed with lupus but between the ages of 15 and 45, nine times more women than men are diagnosed.

Lupus is under-funded and under-recognized and is life-threatening and life-altering. While lupus is a serious condition, in most cases it can be treated and controlled. Diagnosis and treatment are improving, allowing people to live increasingly active and productive lives.

Source: Text & Image: lupuscanada.org

World Tuberculosis Day – 24 March

World Tuberculosis Day is a worldwide event that aims to raise public awareness of tuberculosis and the efforts made to prevent and treat this disease. This event is held on March 24 each year and is promoted by organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO).

The efforts made to prevent and treat tuberculosis are recognized on World Tuberculosis Day.

Background
Tuberculosis, or TB, is an infectious bacterial disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which most commonly affects the lungs. It is transmitted from person to person via droplets from the throat and lungs of people with the disease. WHO estimates that the largest number of new TB cases in 2005 occurred in south-east Asia, which accounted for 34 percent of incident cases globally. However, the estimated incidence rate in sub-Saharan Africa is nearly twice that of south-east Asia.

World Tuberculosis Day, annually held on March 24, marks the day in 1882 when Dr Robert Koch detected the cause of tuberculosis, the TB bacillus. This was a first step towards diagnosing and curing tuberculosis. World Tuberculosis Day can be traced back to 1982, when the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease launched World TB Day on March 24 that year, to coincide with the 100th anniversary of Dr Koch’s discovery.

In 1996, the World Health Organization (WHO) joined the union and other organizations to promote World TB Day. The Stop TB Partnership, called the Stop TB Initiative at the time of its inception, was established in 1998. It is a network of organizations and countries fighting tuberculosis. WHO works with this partnership on to support the activities and events that take place on World Tuberculosis Day each year.

Source: Text: timeanddate.com  Image: askideas.com