Bulgaria joins Saturday many countries across the globe in marking February 4th - World Cancer Day, dedicated to raising awareness of cancer and to encourage its prevention, detection, and treatment.

World Cancer Day, WCD, is an initiative of the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC), a leading international non-governmental organization dedicated to the prevention and control of cancer worldwide. Founded in 1933 and based in Geneva, UICC's growing membership of over 460 organizations across 120 countries, features the world's major cancer societies, ministries of health, research institutes, treatment centers and patient groups. Additionally, the organization is a founding member of the NCD Alliance, a global civil society network that now represents almost 2,000 organizations in 170 countries.

WCD aims to help save millions of preventable deaths each year by raising awareness and education about cancer, and pressing to governments across the world to take action against the disease.

The target of the World Health Organization is to reduce avoidable deaths from cancer by 25% by 2025

WHO warn that the global cancer epidemic is huge and is set to rise. Every month 600 000 people die of cancer and many of these deaths can be avoided with increased governmental support and funding for prevention, detection and treatment programs.

Globally, cancer is the leading cause of death with 12 million diagnosed with it every year and with 7.6 million deaths. Experts warn that 84 million will die from cancer in the next decade it adequate measures are not undertaken.

This year's campaign is held under the motto "Cancer Can Be Prevented."

According to the National Cancer Registry, the cancer rate in Bulgaria is lower than European averages, but still about 100 Bulgarians are struck by cancer every day and over 18 000 die from it every year. The main problem for Bulgaria is the disease being diagnosed at a later stage.

In the eve of WCD, 100 Bulgaria oncologists submitted to Bulgarian Health Minister, Stefan Konstantinov, a petition for a full smoking ban in all indoor public spaces. They say cigarettes are among the main risk factors for cancer.

The Bulgarian cabinet is planning on imposing a full smoking ban on June 1, 2012.

Konstantinov announces the launch of free exams in the country for Bulgarians at risk of cervical and colon cancer.

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