The 2015 global cancer campaign is articulated around four key areas of focus – choosing healthy lives, delivering early detection, achieving treatment for all and maximising quality of life.
BOHS is concerned that the work-related causes of cancer too often fail to be properly acknowledged and are overlooked in the media and other sources of information about cancer.
This, it said, reinforced a lack of awareness around occupational exposures to carcinogens. "In turn, it means that the simple and cost effective occupational hygiene solutions which can eliminate these risks are under-employed within organisations, with grave consequences for public health."
Mike Slater (pictured), president of BOHS, said: "On World Cancer Day 2015, we welcome the message that solutions do indeed exist across the continuum of cancer. However, it is vital that governments, employers and the public understand that occupational exposure is a major cause of cancer, which should be much more publicly highlighted, along with smoking, and diet and alcohol consumption."
The Society has warned that, by 2060, in the absence of action, 13,000 people a year (in contrast to the current estimated level of 8,000) will be dying in Britain each year from preventable occupational cancers.