Cancer Awareness Day is being  observed on 7th November. The day happens to be the birthday of Madame Curie who made significant contributions to the treatment of malignant tumours by her discovery of radium. Cancer, a malignant growth of the epithelial cells, is one of the major non-communicable diseases spreading its tentacles all over the world and its growth incidence is a cause for alarm.

Cancers in all forms are causing about 12% of deaths throughout the world. In the developed countries, cancer is the second leading cause of death accounting for 21% of all mortality. In the developing countries, cancer ranks third as a cause of death and accounts for 9.5% of all deaths. Cancer has become one of the ten leading causes of death in India. It is estimated that there are nearly 15-20 lakhs of cancer cases at any given point of time. Over 7 lakhs new cases of cancer and 3 lakhs deaths occur annually due to cancer. Nearly 15 lakhs patients require facilities for diagnosis, treatment and follow up at a given time. Data from National Cancer Registry Programme indicates that the leading sites of cancer have remained unchanged over the years, i.e. oral cavity, lungs, esophagus and stomach amongst men and cervix, breast and oral cavity amongst women. Cancers of oral cavity and lungs in males and cervix and breast in females account for over 50% of all cancer deaths in India.

Cancer usually occurs in the later years of life and with increase in life expectancy it is all the more important that people are made aware of the fact that the disease is invariably curable if detected in early stages.

National Cancer Control Programme was initiated by the Ministry of Health in 1975 with the objectives of spreading education and awareness, early detection by screening and self examination methods, strengthening of existing treatment facilities, skill upgradation of doctors and para­medical personnel.

India Post has time and again affirmed its commitment to  spread important messages on subjects of interest and relevance to the common man through issue of postage stamps. India Post is happy to release a commemorative postage stamp on Cancer Awareness Day.

Source : Information Folder issued by Indian Posts & Telegraph Department, Government of India