World Cancer Day 2025
#UnitedByUnique
Cancer is more than just a medical diagnosis; it is a deeply personal matter. About 1 in 5 people develop cancer in their lifetime, and for each person whom it affects, the experience will be different.
4 February each year is World Cancer Day. World Cancer Day is an initiative by the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC). The theme for 2025, United by Unique, emphasizes the need to acknowledge the unique experiences of each cancer patient and the importance of delivering people-focused care, supported by healthcare providers, families, and communities. 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.
Behind every diagnosis lies a unique human story. Stories of grief, pain, healing, resilience, love and more. That’s why a people-focused approach to cancer care that fully integrates each individual’s unique needs, with compassion and empathy, leads to the best health outcomes.
The importance of World Cancer Day
According to the WHO (World Health Organization), cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide, accounting for nearly 10 million deaths in 2020, or nearly 1 in 6 deaths.
The most common cancers vary between countries. The most common cancers, in 2020, in terms of new cases of cancer were:
- Breast (2.26 million cases).
- Lung (2.21 million cases).
- Colon and rectum (1.93 million cases).
- Prostate (1.41 million cases).
- Skin (non-melanoma – 1.20 million cases).
- Stomach (1.09 million cases).
Cancer-causing infections, such as human papillomavirus (HPV) and hepatitis, are responsible for approximately 30% of cancer cases in low- and lower-middle-income countries. Cervical cancer is the most common cancer in 23 countries.
The most common causes of cancer death in 2020 were:
- Lung (1.80 million deaths).
- Colon and rectum (916,000 deaths).
- Liver (830,000 deaths).
- Stomach (769,000 deaths).
- Breast (685,000 deaths).
Each year, approximately 400,000 children develop cancer.
Between 30% and 50% of cancers can currently be prevented by avoiding risk factors and implementing existing evidence-based prevention strategies. The cancer burden can also be reduced through early detection of cancer and appropriate treatment and care of patients who develop cancer. Many cancers have a high chance of cure if diagnosed early and treated appropriately.
#Early Detection #Early Diagnosis #Early Treatment