Today marks World Cancer Day, a day to focus on “raising worldwide awareness, improving education and catalyzing personal, collective, and government action,” officials said.
The annual observance, led by the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC), was established on February 4, 2000, at the World Summit Against Cancer for the New Millennium in Paris. World Cancer Day “aims to promote research, raise awareness and mobilize the global community to make progress in cancer prevention, screening, detection, diagnosis, treatment, and care,” UICC officials said in a press release, emphasizing that “ supporters of World Cancer Day are working together to reimagine a world where everyone enjoys access to the cancer prevention, treatment and care that they need, according to their specific needs and preferences.”
The observance is honored annually with activities and events around the world, organizers said, noting that the World Cancer Day theme for 2025 to 2027 is “United by Unique,” which “highlights the fact that people have unique stories, needs, perspectives and situations that need to be taken into consideration when shaping care and health systems, while the community and everyone with an experience of cancer is united in their aim to take action to reduce the burden of cancer.”
The UICC explained in a press release how the “United by Unique” campaign is evolving for this year’s World Cancer Day.
“Now in its second year, the World Cancer Day campaign ‘United by Unique’ is shifting from awareness to reflection and local action,” officials said in a press release. “UICC is asking the global cancer community – people with cancer, caregivers, organizations, healthcare workers – to show how people-centered care can become a reality in all settings, so that the care people receive is not only medically effective but also accessible, inclusive, and responsive to their needs. It emphasizes how people-centered care recognizes the person behind the diagnosis: their values, cultural background, social context, individual needs, and preferences when it comes to care.”
Cary Adams, CEO of UICC, shared in a statement why it’s critical to share and listen to stories from people affected by cancer, and emphasized that around 600 stories are shared on the World Cancer Day website.
“The experiences of people affected by cancer – whether as a person living with cancer, a caregiver, a loved one, or a health worker – offer insight into the human side of care,” Adams said. “They represent an invaluable and critical source of knowledge that must inform cancer policies and services, alongside clinical evidence.”
Ulrika Årehed Kågström, President of UICC and Secretary-General of the Swedish Cancer Society, also shared in a statement why it’s critical to center people in oncology care.
“People-centered care is not theoretical. It is already being practiced in many parts of the world with real benefits to people’s lives in terms of outcomes and quality of life,” she said. “Systems that respond to people’s real needs deliver better outcomes, use resources more effectively, and strengthen trust. These examples must become the standard, not the exception, and this requires political will.”
The UICC also outlined the key messages of the “United by Unique” campaign in a fact sheet:
People-centered care: The campaign “underscores the significance of a fundamental shift in cancer care delivery and health systems, which promotes a holistic approach that considers the emotional, psychological, and social aspects of cancer, alongside the medical treatment.”
Unique human stories: Organizers emphasized that because “every cancer diagnosis is accompanied by a unique story,” the campaign “aims to bring these stories to the forefront, showcasing the diverse experiences of individuals affected by cancer.” Officials shared in a fact sheet that: “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 campaign goals are:
Raising awareness: The UICC explained that the observance aims to “educate the public about the importance of people-centered cancer care and the unique needs of individuals affected by cancer.”
Promoting empathy and compassion: Organizers hope that World Cancer Day can “encourage healthcare providers and caregivers, to approach cancer care with more understanding for individual needs and circumstances.”
Inspiring action: The campaign also aims to motivate individuals and organizations to “take concrete actions to support people-centered cancer care initiatives.”
For more information and insights on how oncology nurses can get involved, visit https://www.worldcancerday.org/the-campaign.