Purpose: Celebrated each year on 4 February, World Cancer Day is an opportunity to rally the international community to end the injustice of preventable suffering from cancer. World Cancer Day aims to promote awareness on cancer as a public health issue and to strengthen actions towards improving access to quality care, screening, early detection, treatment and palliative care. We can work together to reduce cancer risk factors. We can overcome barriers to early diagnosis, treatment and palliative care. We can work together to improve cancer control and achieve global targets to reduce premature mortality from cancer and NCDs.
FORUM: "United by Unique" World Cancer Day 2025. The day will highlight the importance of person-centred cancer care. Every experience with cancer is unique and it will take all of us, united, to create a world where we look beyond the disease and see the person before the patient. The UICC’s Campaign recognizes that every experience with cancer is unique, and every individual has unique needs, perspectives, and stories. The organization underscored that individuals affected by cancer are united in a shared ambition to see governments implement policies to improve cancer prevention and deliver health systems that treat patients with cancer effectively and successfully—resulting in greater survival rates and longer lives after cancer. Follow the conversation with the hashtags: #cancercare, #CancerResearch, #cancer, #4February, #WorldCancerDay, #UnitedbyUnique.
EVENTS: Join the WHO/PAHO on Tuesday, February 4, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. (Washington DC, or EST) to observe World Cancer Day at the webinar entitled ’’ Timely and quality access to medicines and supplies for cancer prevention and control.’’. This event will bring together experts and representatives from key organizations to address the challenges and opportunities in the fight against cancer, sharing progress, experiences, and establishing commitments to improve access to medicines in the region. Register to participate!
Objectives of the event:
Analyze the barriers and solutions to improve access to oncological medicines in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Present Argentina's experience with the use of vaccines and Ecuador as a pilot country in the implementation of the Global Platform for Access to Medicines in Childhood Cancer.
Explore the impact of global coalitions and platforms in improving access to essential cancer treatments.
Promote collaboration between key actors in the region to strengthen policies for access to oncological medicines.
Promote the use of the PAHO Strategic Fund for the centralized purchase of oncological medicines by countries in the region.
On February 4th, for the World Cancer Day 2025 various activities will take place globally, including the "5k Challenge" by the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC), encouraging individuals from all backgrounds to participate in activities such as running, cycling, swimming, hiking or walking to symbolize closing the gap in care. Additionally, there will be "21-day challenges" for individuals to create new healthy habits, raise awareness about cervical cancer, and educate themselves about inequalities in accessing cancer services. View the map of activities!
CAMPAIGN: Behind every diagnosis lies a unique human story - stories of grief, pain, healing, resilience, love and more. That’s why a people-centred approach to cancer care that fully integrates each individual’s unique needs, with compassion and empathy, leads to the best health outcomes. The "United by Unique" campaign will begin its journey by inviting individuals from all walks of life to share their personal cancer stories. Much like people-centred care aims to see the individual behind the disease, the campaign intends to showcase real stories with unique perspectives. Whether it’s someone living with cancer, a family member, a caregiver, a medical professional, an advocate, or an ally, every person’s experience with cancer, the diverse challenges each faces, and how people-centred care could respond to their unique situation. By bringing these stories together into one place, the campaign aims to build a rich collection of voices that serves as a striking illustration of what is meant by “United by Unique”: every person is one of a kind, but no one is alone in the aim to take meaningful and lasting action against cancer. This year is all about recognizing and validating each unique experience, fostering a sense of community and shared purpose among those affected by cancer; Let's come together to rewrite the future of cancer care - one where the needs of people and communities come first. Join the campaign!
STATEMENTS: Read the statement of the World Health Organization South-East Asia Region - WHO SEARO Director on World Cancer Day 2025, February 4th; The Statement of Dr Tedros; WHO Director General on World Cancer Day 2025; The statement of the the WHO Africa Director-General Dr. Matshidiso Moeti on World Cancer Day 2025, and the statement of the PAHO Director-General on World Cancer Day 2025; February 4th.
PODCASTS: This is the year to question the status quo and help reduce stigma; to listen to the perspectives of the people living with cancer and their communities and let those lived experiences guide our thoughts and actions. Listen to the audio-podcasts!
CAMPAIGN MATERIALS: The campaign will explore different dimensions of people-centred cancer care and new ways of making a difference. It will offer a three- year journey from raising awareness to taking action. . Get the communication materials!
Why we celebrate it?
Income, education, geographical location and discrimination based on ethnicity, race, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability and lifestyle are just a few of the factors that can negatively affect care. The most disadvantaged groups are also more likely to have increased exposures to a host of other risk factors, like tobacco, unhealthy diet or environmental hazards
Actions
On World Cancer Day, everyone has the potential to make a difference. Here are several ways you can engage with your family, friends and community to support a good cause. Because together, we make a positive change. The reality today is that who you are and where you live could mean the difference between life and death. The new 3-year World Cancer Day campaign « Close the Care Gap » seeks to inspire change and mobilise action. the campaign is hosted by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and has consultative status with the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).
Partners
The World Cancer Day is organized in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO), the UICC, International Cancer Control Partnership, the McCabe Centre for Law & Cancer, the Canadian Cancer Society; the American Cancer Society, the Council Australia Western Australia, City Cancer Challenge Foundatio, the NCD Alliance.
