World Cancer Day 2022 is Friday, February 4. World Cancer Day was started by the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC), the oldest and largest cancer organization in the world. UICC is dedicated to uniting the global cancer community to promote equal access to quality care worldwide. The initiative aims to take the lead in creating a cancer-free world. Read more to find out how you can participate.
What is World Cancer Day?
World Cancer Day 2022 is Friday, February 4. The initiative was started in 2000 by the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) to unite the global cancer community in the fight to end cancer.
UICC’s mission is to help prevent millions of cancer deaths worldwide through:
- Bringing about individual, community, and government action
- Improving cancer education
- Raising cancer awareness
UICC is dedicated to helping everyone access life-saving cancer treatment no matter how much money they have or where they live. The organization takes the lead on ensuring the fight against cancer is a world health priority.
“We unite and support the cancer community to reduce the global cancer burden, to promote greater equity, and to ensure that cancer control continues to be a priority in the world health and development agenda.”
— The Union for International Cancer Control (UICC)
Each World Cancer Day, hundreds of activities happen across the globe. The events serve to remind the world that we all must play a role in the fight to reduce the devastating impact of cancer.
Goals of World Cancer Day
The goals of World Cancer Day are to raise awareness, advocate for change in healthcare, support research efforts, find a cure, and support cancer patients/survivors.
The overarching goal is to drastically reduce the number of cancer deaths while improving life quality and survival rates for all patients.
These are the nine targets World Cancer Day aims to reach by 2025:
- Strengthen health care systems to ensure comprehensive cancer care throughout patients’ lives
- Establish cancer registries and surveillance to measure cancer impact
- Reduce global levels of tobacco/alcohol use, obesity, unhealthy diets, physical inactivity, and exposure to known cancer risks such as asbestos
- Ensure universal vaccination programs for HPV (high-risk human papillomavirus) and hepatitis B (HBV)
- End the stigma and misinformation around cancer
- Implement screening and early detection programs globally
- Improve access to accurate diagnosis, treatment, and palliative care
- Make pain/distress management universally available
- Improve education and training, especially in low- and middle-income areas
World Cancer Day is made up of over 900 activities in more than 100 countries across the world. Additionally, World Cancer Day is officially observed by more than 60 governments.
Close the Care Gap: World Cancer Day 2022
Each World Cancer Day has a theme, and this year it is “Close the Care Gap.”
Closing the care gap means getting rid of barriers to cancer care, such as:
- Income
- Education
- Geographical location
Additionally, discrimination based on ethnicity, age, gender, sexual orientation, disability, and lifestyle may negatively affect accessing quality cancer care.
Closing the care gap means working toward equal access for all cancer patients and survivors across the globe.
The driving principle behind this year’s theme is that cancer will only be viewed as a world health priority by recognizing barriers to care. With cancer research aimed at helping all people, creating a cancer-free world becomes possible.
How to Show Your Support
World Cancer Day activities will be broadcast live from across the globe for 11 hours. You can join the virtual program, which is sure to be informative and entertaining. Hear from sports stars and celebrities, listen to survivor stories, learn from experts, and join yoga sessions. Watch live on Friday, February 4, from 4 a.m. – 3:20 p.m. EST.
There are also many other ways you can support World Cancer Day. The most important thing to remember is to get involved in any way you can. Change can only happen if people everywhere come together.
Here are some ways to your support this World Cancer Day:
- Make a donation to UICC
- Post about your personal commitment to end cancer on your social media
- Update your social media cover page with an official World Cancer Day image
- Write a blog, op-ed, or video about World Cancer Day
- Start a conversation with friends, family, and coworkers about cancer
- Educate yourself and others about reducing cancer risks
- Test your knowledge on equality in cancer care with this quiz
- Wear blue and orange — the official World Cancer Day colors
- Participate in a World Cancer Day event near you
No matter who you are, you can take action toward ending cancer. Join the fight this World Cancer Day. Any amount of support can inspire change and create forward movement toward a cancer-free world.
