Cycling icon Lance Armstrong took a major step Monday in his bid to ramp up the global fight against cancer by winning support from Australian government officials and campaigners.
Armstrong, a cancer survivor who went on to win the Tour de France a record seven times, has come out of retirement to help fight a disease that killed around 28 million people in the three years he was away from the sport.
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Cancer is one of the frequently talked about and most feared disease that falls under the genre of lifestyle diseases that have evolved, rather rapidly, in the past two decades.
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During a presentation at the Royal Adelaide hospital, complete with emotional testimonies via videolink from cancer sufferers, Armstrong was unforgiving in his assessment of a disease he said deserved more attention.
"Cancer worldwide has become a massive problem, but it has also become a complacent problem, and we're not doing enough for my taste," he told a 300-strong audience of health officials, cancer campaigners and sufferers.
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An animation of Colonoscopy that shows the appearance of large intestine or colon by using a thin and flexible viewing tube called the colonoscope.
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"On September 11, 2001 over 3,000 people from the United States and around the world died, and the world came to a halt. This disease is true terror."
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"Over 18 months we studied whether the Livestrong Foundation would have an effect (on battling the disease), and the answer was a resounding yes," he added.
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Cyclist Armstrong Ropes in US Presidential Candidates for Cancer Awareness Campaign
Retired cyclist Lance Armstrong is leading a campaign in the US to make US presidential candidates to commit themselves to greater devolution of funds for cancer research and prevention.
Retired cyclist Lance Armstrong is leading a campaign in the US to make US presidential candidates to commit themselves to greater devolution of funds for cancer research and prevention.
His story continues to inspire millions worldwide, including Swan.
The Australian politician who has the power to lobby for funds that can be allocated to states to help fight the disease was among those who said Armstrong had provided much needed hope.
"Lance is a modern miracle. This is a battle we can win. We have the means, we just need to have the will," said Swan, who gave firm backing to the roles that cancer foundations worldwide play.
"Governments can't do it all on their own. That is why foundations play such an important role."
A glance at the experts' figures for the global cancer problem provides stark reading.
Cancer expert Professor David Hill said some 12 million people worldwide would be diagnosed with cancer in 2009.
Of that number, five million would die, he said. He added that currently there are 25 million cancer sufferers worldwide.
"Cancer kills more people than HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria combined," said Hill, the president of the International Union Against Cancer.
"But compared to some of the other major crises going on in the world, there is a great consensus on what has to be done."
Source-AFP
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