World Cancer Day

World Cancer Day is the one singular initiative under which the entire world can unite together in the fight against the global cancer epidemic. It takes place every year on 4 February.

World Cancer Day aims to prevent millions of deaths each year by raising awareness about cancer, and pressing governments and individuals across the world to take action against the disease.

UICC continues to expand on the success and impact of the day and is committed to ensuring that year-on-year the event is seen and heard by more people around the world. UICC does this by developping a campaign that serves the different organisational priorities of its members worldwide.

UICC offers tools and guidance to encourage its member organisations to run local cancer awareness campaigns that are aligned and adapted to the global World Cancer Day message.
On an above-country level, UICC works to seize digital, traditional and social media opportunities to raise public awareness of the day.

Through the continued support of members and key partners, World Cancer Day has firmly cemented itself in calendars across the world.

World Cancer Day is more than a day on the calendar. That’s why our campaign is built to inspire change and mobilise action long after the day itself. A multi-year campaign means more exposure and engagement, more opportunities to build global awareness and ultimately more impact. 

The theme for World Cancer Day 2022-2024 is Close the Care Gap. We know that every single one of us has the ability to make a difference, large or small, and that together we can make real progress in reducing the global impact of cancer.

Visit the World Cancer Day website

Read the World Cancer Day 2023 Impact Report

“While we have different languages, varied cultured and diverse origins, we share a common enemy: cancer. World Cancer Day reminds us that cancer affects millions around the world and that if we work together, we can defeat it".

Kenji Lopez Cuevas Lawyer, Founder and President Cancer Warriors of Mexico

"As a sponsor for World Cancer Day, we believe that your health matters, no matter your age. As a part of our When Cancer Grows Old™ initiative, Sanofi is collaborating with the global cancer community, including advocates and healthcare providers around the world, to give people with cancer the best possible chance to grow older."

Vanina Laurent-Ledru, Vice President of Global Public Affairs, Sanofi Specialty Care Sanofi

Explore more

The reality today is that who you are and where you live could mean the difference between life and death. It isn’t fair. But we can change this.

Black woman with head scarf smiling at camera while standing in front of yellow wall

Put simply, cancer is one of the world’s leading killers.This year alone, nearly 9.6 million people will die of cancer, and left unchecked, the number of deaths will increase to 13.2 million per year by 2030.