AİFD Secretary General Dr. Dereli issues World Cancer Day message
AİFD Secretary General Dr. Ümit Dereli, in a message released for 4 February World Cancer Day, drew attention to the progress achieved in cancer treatment, noting that more than 800 drugs and vaccines currently in clinical trial stages are giving hope to patients.
There is now hope thanks to new drugs and treatments: We will definitely defeat cancer
On the occasion of World Cancer Day on 4 February, AİFD Secretary General Dr. Ümit Dereli issued a statement drawing attention to progress in cancer treatment, noting that more than 800 drugs and vaccines in clinical trial stages offer hope to patients.
Dr. Dereli emphasized that thanks to scientific progress, revolutionary developments in medical technologies, and new diagnostic and treatment options, complete remission rates in cancer have now reached 70 percent in adults and 85 percent in children. Pointing to the importance of access to the right treatment at the right time, Dr. Dereli stressed that hundreds of drugs in development for many types of cancer—from lung cancer to leukemia, lymphoma to breast cancer—will be made available to patients for treatment in the near future.
Dr. Ümit Dereli stated that patients and their families should not lose hope, noting that this year's World Cancer Day slogan is "Yes we can, yes I can." He emphasized the importance of raising public awareness against a disease that causes millions of deaths each year and many types of which can be prevented by eliminating risk factors.
World Cancer Day is observed on 4 February each year around the world with various activities, aimed at raising public awareness about cancer and preventing cancer deaths, as designated by the International Union for Cancer Control (UICC).
The Association of Research-Based Pharmaceutical Companies (AİFD) also drew public attention to progress in cancer treatment through a statement issued on the occasion of World Cancer Day.
Dr. Dereli noted that 14 million people contract cancer worldwide each year, and this number is expected to reach 20 million in 2025. He stated, "We lose 8.2 million individuals to cancer every year worldwide.
Cancer deaths are expected to rise to 11-12 million in 2025. Simply eliminating risk factors alone makes a significant difference. The societal cost of cancer is very high.
However, researchers are using all scientific means to fight cancer. In the near future, we will certainly witness humanity defeating cancer."
In the statement, AİFD Secretary General Dr. Ümit Dereli noted that significant advances have been made in fighting cancer in recent years, stating that scientists have uncovered the complex underlying causes of cancer, of which there are more than 200 types, through advances in molecular biology and genome research.
"Research has expanded our knowledge of how the disease develops and how to target drugs against specific cancer types, enabling more effective treatments for patients.
Despite all progress made, globally 8.2 million people still die from cancer each year," said AİFD Secretary General Dereli, noting that half of these deaths are among adults aged 30-69, and 4 million deaths are considered preventable cancers.
Drawing attention to a report published by the American Cancer Research Society in 2015, Dr. Dereli noted that in the United States, cancer ranks second among causes of death, accounting for 1 in 4 deaths.
Emphasizing that the number of people diagnosed with cancer, which ranks at the top among causes of death worldwide, is estimated at approximately 14 million people, AİFD Secretary General Dereli stated that this means approximately 22,000 people die from cancer every day.
Significant advances in cancer treatment have been made over 45 years
Despite all these setbacks, Dr. Dereli said that significant advances have been made in fighting cancer over the past 45 years, noting that research results show cancer mortality rates have fallen by 22 percent over 45 years and survival rates have risen to 83 percent thanks to new treatments, including cancer drugs.
According to a report published by the American Cancer Research Society, the number of patients who recovered as a result of treatment in the United States was 3 million in 1971, but reached 14.5 million by 2014, AİFD Secretary General stated. Based on these figures, in the United States with a population of around 322 million, 1 in 25 people contract cancer, yet survive the disease.
In this regard, Dr. Dereli noted that the pharmaceutical industry is conducting innovative work in its R&D centers to develop targeted therapies for cancer diseases. He said that under these efforts, pharmaceutical companies have developed 836 cancer drugs and vaccines that are in clinical research stages or awaiting review by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Secretary General Dr. Dereli stated that all people benefiting from these new drugs and treatments should be evaluated within the scope of fundamental human rights, and that if licensing periods are shortened in Turkey, cancer drugs and vaccines that receive approval can be made available to patients in the shortest time possible.
