Online course: Women, power and cancer - implementing the Lancet Commission's recommendations

The topic of women and cancer encompasses more than just women's cancers and biomedical aspects. It includes the ways in which sex and gender influence exposure to cancer risk factors, interactions with the healthcare system, health policies, and the structure of the healthcare and cancer workforce.  

The course is based on the report published by The Lancet Commission on women, power, and cancer in September 2023. The report presents key findings and recommends a set of actions, notably to reference sex and gender in all cancer-related policies and guidelines, so that they answer the needs and aspirations of all women. 

Through the course, participants will learn about the interplay of women and power along the cancer continuum, and how gender dynamics affect access to and the delivery of health and cancer services. The purpose is to build a knowledgeable community of professionals from different sectors and countries, who are equipped to advocate for and implement changes based on the key findings of the Commission.

Offering a mix of global case studies, guest speakers, and practical exercises, the course will: 

• provide information on bringing a gender lens to the cancer continuum; 

• introduce the key themes and recommendations from the Lancet Commission on women, power and cancer; 

• share practical approaches and discuss strategies to advance an equity agenda for all; and 

• present opportunities to integrate the Commission’s recommendations into advocacy, research, and action on cancer planning, laws and policies, and health strategies. 

This course is developed in collaboration with the McCabe Centre for Law and Cancer and members of The Lancet Commission on women, power, and cancer, and supported by UICC's partners on women and cancer.

Course delivery

This course is delivered over 9 weeks, starting on 28 April and completing on 27 June, and is divided in six modules each applying a gender lens to a specific area of cancer control:

1. The landscape of women, power and cancer

2. Cancer risk factors, early detection and diagnosis

3. Unequal costs of care

4. Cancer leadership and the cancer workforce

5. The role of law for cancer and gender

6. Practical implications and potential for change

Learning is delivered via pre-recorded presentations, guided discussions and regular live sessions. The total time commitment required for the course is likely to be 2 hours per module on average.

The course is delivered exclusively in English.  

Target audience

The course will be particularly beneficial to cancer and health policy professionals, clinical professionals, cancer advocates, researchers, technical officers in Ministries of Health and senior managers in cancer agencies

Applications are now closed.