The three-year World Cancer Day campaign ‘We can. I can.’ explores how everyone – together or individually – can help reduce the global burden of cancer. Cancer affects everyone in different ways, and everyone has the power to take action to reduce the impact of the disease on individuals, families and communities.
World Cancer Day (4 February) gives us a chance to reflect on what we can do and take action. Whatever you choose to do, ‘We can. I can.’ make a difference in the fight against cancer.
The 2016-2018 World Cancer Day campaign explores actions that ‘We can. I can.’ do to save lives, achieve greater equity in cancer care, and make fighting cancer a priority at the highest political levels. We have compiled some key facts and supporting evidence around each of these actions so that no matter who you are – a cancer survivor, a co-worker, a cancer organisation, a carer, a friend, an employer or a student – information is at your fingertips to support and enable you to take action.
The Importance of World Cancer Day
The global cancer epidemic is enormous and is set to rise. Currently 8.2 million people die from cancer worldwide every year, out of which 4 million are premature deaths (aged 30 to 69 years). Over the next ten years cancer deaths are projected to increase to over 14 million per year. Urgent action must be taken to raise awareness about the disease and to develop practical strategies to address the cancer burden. Global disparities in access to prevention, treatment and palliative care are growing exponentially.
World Cancer Day is the ideal opportunity to spread the word and raise the profile of cancer in people’s minds, in the world’s media, and on the global health and development agenda.
Spread the Word. We can join forces for increased impact & reduce the global #CancerBurden: bit.ly/WCD2018 #WorldCancerDay #WeCanICan #Partnerships
