During last week's JSCO 2012 Annual Meeting, the 8th Asia Cancer Forum adopted a Declaration outlining its commitments to address cancer, in line with the recently adopted UN Political Declaration on NCDs.

The Declaration was adopted at the 49th Annual Meeting of the Japan Society of Clinical Oncology which took place from 27 - 29 October 2011 under the theme: “Toward the goal: Finding the best way and Taking the first step”.

Presided over by Masahiko Nishiyama, MD, the Annual Meeting aimed to provide a forum where cancer professionals could engage in constructive, scientific-based discussions on how to best combat cancer at the national level.

The Meeting included a full educational programme with sessions for physicians and co-medical workers, as well as a web seminar for patients and their families. On the final day of the Meeting, the 8th Asia Cancer Forum adopted a Declaration recognising the importance of the UN Summit on Non-communicable Diseases (NCDs) that took place on 19-20 September 2011 in New York and the need to maintain efforts to address the global NCD burden, and committed to:

1. Affirm the critical importance of placing cancer on the global health agenda as a means of further promoting concerted global action.

2. Will continue to conduct research among experts on their perceptions of the current situation concerning the positioning of cancer on the global health agenda, seeking to share a common philosophy on global health and enhance cooperation in the field of global health.

3. Will create a new approach by proposing lifestyle changes aimed at preventing cancer that take into consideration historical and cultural diversity.ç

4. Will actively provide scientific and technological assistance that enable clinical trials to be conducted in both industrialized and developing countries and aim to act as a bridge between the industrialized and developing world in the field of cancer research.

5. Will seek to create multidisciplinary educational programs that combine humanities and sciences and launch Global Collaborative Cancer Studies, for the purpose of overcoming health disparities among different countries and regions and building mutually complementary long-term partnerships.

6. Encourage cooperation and collaboration among Asian federations that are engaged in efforts to promote the treatment of cancer.