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World Cancer Day is an awareness day to educate people about cancer. Awareness is the first step towards handling any issue. As a modern civilization, we have come up with a cure for everything but still, cancer is a life-threatening disease. The danger associated with cancer generates the need to create a community for cancer awareness. The community should aim at inculcating a sense of understanding regarding the severity of cancer and work towards promoting its prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. Read this blog to know when is World Cancer Day 2024 celebrated, its theme, history, significance, tips, and Cancer Day activities!
Table of Contents
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What is Cancer?
Cancer is a life-threatening disease that is classified into 4 stages. It is characterised by uncontrollable division of cells which destroys the body tissues. Cancer treatments are available but still, the chances of survival are not so high and this is because of the lack of awareness in society about the preventive measures of cancer. Therefore, World Cancer Day plays a crucial role in the healthcare sector to educate people about the treatment and preventive measures of Cancer.
Broadly, there are 19 types of cancer. They are listed below:
- Uterine Cancer
- Breast Cancer
- Cervical Cancer
- Oral Cancers
- Cancer of the Bladder
- Cancer In the Eyes
- Cancer of the Pancreas
- Colorectal Cancer
- Esophageal Cancer
- Kidney Cancer
- Laryngeal Cancers
- Liver Cancers
- Lung Cancers
- Ovarian Cancers
- Prostrate Cancer
- Skin Cancers
- Stomach Cancer
- Testicular Cancer
- Thyroid Cancers
World Cancer Day History
World Cancer Day is celebrated on 4 February every year. It is an international uniting initiative led by the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC). This day was started on 4 February 2000 at the World Summit Against Cancer for the New Millenium in Paris. World Cancer Day aims to promote research, improve patient services, raise awareness and encourage people to adopt World Cancer Day.
Since 2000, this day has gained positive momentum and it is uniting everyone under one of the greatest challenges in the medical sector i.e. preventing cancer. This day is also important to pay tribute to the healthcare workers who are constantly working towards both preventing and curing this disease. This day celebrates the contributions of the healthcare workers.
Check out this Campaign Video to learn more about the significance of this day:
World Cancer Day 2024 Theme
The theme for World Cancer Day 2024 is “Close the Care Gap.” The three-year “Close the Care Gap” campaign of World Cancer Day was initially presented to participants on the Summit platform in the run-up to the UICC’s World Cancer Leaders’ Summit. Princess Dina Mired of Jordan, UICC’s Immediate Past President, hosted a panel discussion with Paul Farmer, Co-Founder and Chief Strategist of Partners In Health, and Philippa Kibugu Decuir, Founder and Director of the Breast Cancer Initiative East Africa (BCIEA) Inc. In the middle of the epidemic, more than 800 events were held throughout the world on 4 February to ensure that cancer was not forgotten.
On Twitter, World Cancer Day trended worldwide, and over 160 landmarks in 95 cities were lit up. On 4 February 2022, the UICC hopes to see the cancer community increase cancer awareness and push for action with even more vigour and passion, which will be visible to the rest of the world.
The first year of the ‘Close the Care Gap’ initiative is centred on recognizing and analyzing cancer care inequalities throughout the world.
The theme for current World Cancer Day focuses on making sure that our leaders know that the cancer community demand a commitment to prioritising cancer and creating innovative strategies to confront inequity and to make investments in the resources to achieve a cancer-free world. The Cancer community is working hard to ensure that everyone receives quality health services anywhere and everywhere they need them.
What does the World Cancer Day Theme All About?
It’s all about keeping an open mind, questioning preconceptions, and examining the facts:
- Cancer care inequity costs lives.
- People seeking cancer treatment face obstacles at every turn.
- Discrimination based on race, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, and lifestyle are just a few of the characteristics that might have a detrimental impact on treatment.
- The division affects everyone.
- These obstacles are not inflexible. They are modifiable.
That’s how we can start to conceive a new way of doing things and a more equitable future—one in which people live healthier lives and have greater access to health and cancer treatments regardless of where they are born, develop, age, work, or reside.
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Tips To Prevent Cancer
Want to know what are the tips to prevent cancer? Then, look at the infographic given below and aware people around you about cancer prevention.
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World Cancer Day Activities for Students
Now we all can participate in the campaign “Our Time to Act is Now” which is organized as a part of World Cancer Day. All our contributions, no matter how big or small, have an impact; therefore, we all could participate in it on an individual or Community Level. So, let’s have a look at some ways through which we can participate in Global Cancer Day 2024.
- Students can participate in the poster-making competition and spread awareness about cancer prevention.
- Collect donations for cancer patients.
- Students can visit the Cancer Foundation and celebrate special events with cancer patients and provide them comfort and emotional support to fight against cancer.
- Through the official page of World Cancer Day, you can all contribute some amount and financially support the campaigns which are going to happen across the world as a part of World Cancer Day.
- You can also hold campaigns at your community level and work towards the spread of awareness regarding cancer and work towards an informed society.
- You can also record a video message or write on the theme and spread awareness about cancer on social media.
- There is a section on the official page of World Cancer Day where you could “Add your activity” which you are going to conduct in order to spread awareness regarding Cancer. It could be a flash mob, a fundraiser or even a marathon dedicated towards the cause.
So, the best way to participate in this day is to keep connected with the official page of World Cancer Day and look for spaces where you can contribute and make a difference.
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Warriors Fighting Cancer!
Warriors like oncologists, doctors, psychologists, social workers, and family members of patients are constantly fighting the disease through extensive treatment, emotional support, and awareness campaigns. To help these warriors win the fight against one of the most draining and deathly diseases, spreading awareness about cure and prevention is the responsibility of all the members of our society.
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Relevant Blogs
| World Health Day | World Heart Day |
| International Day of Acceptance | National Pharmacist Day |
| World AIDS Vaccine Day | World Hypertension Day |
FAQs
It happens every year on 4 February. By promoting cancer awareness, educating the public about the disease, and encouraging governments and people around the globe to take action against it, this day seeks to prevent millions of deaths each year.
Every year on 4 February, the Union for International Cancer Control leads World Cancer Day worldwide.
It is an initiative of the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC).
The theme for International Cancer Day 2024 is “Close the Care Gap.”
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