Today, the world unites to raise awareness and fight cancer. Celebrated every February 4, World Cancer Day is a global initiative of the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) that seeks to improve collective knowledge around cancer while challenging misconceptions around the disease. Fittingly, this year’s theme is “Debunk the Myths.” The UICC is concentrating specifically dispelling four myths:
Myth 1: We don’t need to talk about cancer.
- The truth: While cancer can be a difficult topic to address, particularly in some cultures and settings, dealing with the disease openly can improve outcomes at an individual, community, and policy level.
Myth 2: Cancer… There are no signs or symptoms.
- The truth: For many cancers, there are warning signs and symptoms and the benefits of early detection are indisputable.
Myth 3: There is nothing I can do about cancer.
- The truth: There is a lot that can be done at an individual, community, and policy level. Additionally, the UICC points out with the right strategies, a third of the most common cancers can be prevented. Healthy behaviors like avoiding tobacco, maintaining a healthy body weight, eating right and getting enough exercise, and getting appropriate cancer screening tests can all make a significant difference.
Myth 4: I don’t have the right to cancer care.
- The truth: All people have the right to access proven and effective cancer treatments and services on equal terms, and without suffering hardship as a consequence.
Jones & Bartlett Learning is committed to providing trusted resources to help healthcare providers give the best care to cancer patients. Recently, Cancer Symptom Management, Fourth Edition by Connie Henke Yarbro, Debra Wujcik, and Barbara Holmes Gobel was awarded first place in the American Journal of Nursing (AJN) Book of the Year Awards in the Palliative Care and Hospice category.
Covering multiple symptoms inherent in the treatment of cancer, the text examines each symptom in terms of its cause, pathophysiology, assessment, management, evaluation of therapeutic approaches, and patient self-care. New chapters include “Hypersensitivity Reactions to Antineoplastic Drugs,” “Extravasation,” “Ocular and Otic Complications,” and “Symptoms When Death is Imminent.”
To learn more about Jones & Bartlett Learning resources, visit our website.