If some lifestyle factors could be improved, such as diet, physical activity and body weight, there would be 2.8 million fewer new cases of cancer each year worldwide, according to the charity World Cancer Research Fund. The UN Summit on NCD (Non-Communicable Diseases) has been described by the charity as a “once-in-a-generation” chance to prevent a public health disaster.

A non-communicable disease, also known as NCD is a non-infectious condition or disease. They are generally of long duration and progress slowly. Examples include diabetes, osteoporosis, Alzheimer’s disease, chronic kidney disease, cataracts, cancer, stroke and heart disease. Examples of communicable diseases, are HIV/AIDS, hepatitis, or measles – infectious diseases.

The 2.8 million a year figure for cancers that could be prevented with lifestyle changes is expected to rise considerably over the next decade, the World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) warns.

In less than a decade the total number of cancers worldwide has increased by 20%. There are today 12 million new cancer cases every year, compared to 2.6 million new HIV infections.

As global rates of diabetes, heart disease and respiratory disease are expected to increase dramatically, NCDs are a “threat to the whole world”.

The United Nations is holding a high-level Summit on 19-20 September. The aim is to determine what can be done to address this ever-growing disease burden.

In the UN’s history, only once before has a health issue received so much global attention.

It would be a tragedy if we do not develop robust global and national NCD prevention policies that can prevent millions of deaths, WCRF adds. British Prime Minister, David Cameron, is being urged to attend the Summit in person.

Medical and Scientific Adviser for WCRF, Professor Martin Wiseman, said:

“Cancer and other lifestyle-related diseases are one of the biggest challenges we face today and the UN Summit later this month is a real turning point.

“With millions of lives at risk around the world, the stakes are incredibly high. And while this is an issue facing millions globally, every day in the UK people are being diagnosed with a cancer that could have been prevented. Yet many people are still unaware that risk factors such as alcohol and obesity affect cancer risk, while from television advertising to the pricing of food, our society works in a way that discourages people from adopting healthy habits. But this Summit offers the chance to look at public health issues at the international level.”

Cancer prevalence is currently higher in industrialized nations, where people are less physically active and tend to weigh more. However, developing nations are rapidly catching up. Higher cancer and NCD rates in developing countries, where resources to provide health services are more limited, could have a devastating effect on their public health as well as their economy.

Director of Science and Communications for WCRF, Dr Kate Allen, said:

“We tend to think of cancer and other diseases such as heart disease and diabetes as largely being a problem for the developed world. But even poor countries are seeing increasing obesity rates as people eat more processed food and become less active.

Already there are 7 million cancer cases diagnosed a year in the developing world and that is likely to rise dramatically. Unless we act now to prevent cancer and other NCDs, the charity appeals of the future will not just be for disasters and famines, but to pay for cancer care. It truly is a global health problem of great magnitude, and one that threatens workforce productivity and the world’s economy.

However, this is not inevitable. If governments around the world show real leadership now then the Summit could lead to the kind of changes that would mean millions of people are spared the needless suffering of being diagnosed with a cancer.

But if the Summit does not lead to this kind of change, we will look back at this once-in-a-generation international event as a missed opportunity to stem the rising tide of lifestyle-related diseases.”

Written by Christian Nordqvist