History of Cancer

21st Century

2000
53rd World Health Assembly presided over by Dr. Libertina Amathila (Namibia) endorsed “Global strategy for non-communicable disease (NCD) prevention and control,” which outlined major objectives for monitoring, preventing, and managing NCDs, with special emphasis on major NCDs with common risk factors and determinants— cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, and chronic respiratory disease.

2000
The entire human genome is mapped.

2000
Charter of Paris against Cancer is signed.

2001
LUXEMBOURG
International Childhood Cancer Day was launched, its aim to raise awareness of the 250,000 children worldwide who get cancer every year. Some 80% of these children have little or no access to treatment. The first annual event in 2002 was supported in 30 countries around the world and raised over US$100,000 for parent organizations to help children in their own countries.

2004
SWITZERLAND
WHO cancer prevention and control resolution approved by World Health Assembly.

2005
WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control came into force, using international law to further public health and prevent cancer.

2006
USA
The US Federal Drug Administration approved the first HPV vaccine to prevent infections that cause cervical cancer.

2011
Lung cancer deaths reduced by low-dose computed tomography (CT) scanning of people at high risk.

2011
UN High Level Meeting on Non-communicable Diseases in New York, USA.