World Cancer Day, which is held every 4th of February, is the global uniting initiative led by the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC).
This year's World Cancer Day's theme, “Close the Care Gap”, celebrates progress in its many forms that enable more people to seek and receive the care they need and deserve.
It is about providing the momentum to fuel the fight for fairness. UICC says: “We will build stronger alliances and innovative new collaborations; we will mobilise friends, family, co-workers and communities because we know that united, we are stronger.”
By raising worldwide awareness, improving education and catalysing personal, collective and government action, the aim is to reimagine a world where millions of preventable cancer deaths are saved and access to life-saving cancer treatment and care is equitable for all - no matter who you are or where you live.
Created in 2000, World Cancer Day has grown into a positive movement for everyone, everywhere to unite under one voice to face one of our greatest challenges in history.
Each year, hundreds of activities and events take place around the world, gathering communities, organisations and individuals in schools, businesses, hospitals, marketplaces, parks, community halls, places of worship - in the streets and online - acting as a powerful reminder that we all have a role to play in reducing the global impact of cancer.
While we live in a time of awe-inspiring advancements in cancer prevention, diagnosis and treatment, many of us who seek cancer care hit barriers at every turn. Income, education, geographical location and discrimination based on ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability and lifestyle are just a few of the factors that can negatively affect care.
On February 4, help close the cancer care gap for a cancer-free world.
