Rewriting cancer

This film series, produced for UICC by BBC Storyworks, aims to dispel myths and showcase advancements in cancer prevention, treatment, and care through the lens of people with lived experience.

Two people stand side by side outdoors near a shoreline at sunset, looking toward the horizon. The scene is warmly lit with soft golden light and a partly cloudy sky. In the foreground, one person wears a sleeveless dark top and short hair with earrings, while the other wears a light purple floral-patterned dress with hair pulled back. In the background, there are palm trees and what appears to be a marina or moored boats, slightly out of focus, creating a calm coastal setting.

Film series overview

Many people will be affected by cancer at some point in their lives. About 1 in 5 people develop cancer in their lifetimes, with 1 in 12 women and 1 in 9 men dying from the disease – and this affects also their families, friends, and communities.

Yet, there's still much that people don’t understand about cancer and cancer care.

This series, produced for UICC by BBC Storyworks Commercial Productions, spotlights the incredible people living and working with cancer, breaking down the myths and misconceptions around the disease.

It celebrates the relentless pursuit of new and exciting treatments and developments in screening and early detection, offering a different perspective on identifying, treating, and living beyond the disease.

This is cancer, rewritten.

Produced for UICC by BBC StoryWorks Commercial Productions

The 2024 film series

Rewriting Cancer began in 2024 with a first series of 25 short films from across the globe.

The films are grouped under three chapters:

Changing the odds

Enhancing awareness and accessibility of cancer screening, early detection, and diagnosis

Changing the outcome

Addressing health gaps and transforming prevention, treatment, and care

Changing the experience

Championing quality of life for people with cancer

View the first 2024 series

About cancer

Cancer is a group of diseases marked by uncontrolled cell growth, leading to significant global morbidity and mortality, with 20 million new cases and nearly 10 million deaths in 2022.

Cancer control efforts encompass prevention (reducing risk factors such as smoking and infections), public awareness campaigns, screening and early detection, treatment (advances in surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and targeted therapies), and supportive, palliative and survivorship care.

Recent positive trends include declining mortality rates, improved survival rates (e.g., nearly 90% for breast cancer in some regions), and global initiatives such WHO's strategies for breast cancer, cervical cancer, and childhood cancer. But many inequalities and inequities exist for many people in accessing the care they need.

UICC encourages you to share this series and join the conversation using the hashtags

#RewritingCancer
#Cancer