
World Cancer Day is an international day marked on 4 February to raise awareness of cancer and to encourage its prevention, detection, and treatment. World Cancer Day is led by the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) to support the goals of the World Cancer Declaration, written in 2008. The primary goal of World Cancer Day is to significantly reduce illness and death caused by cancer and is an opportunity to rally the international community to end the injustice of preventable suffering from cancer. The day is observed by the United Nations.
World Cancer Day | |
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![]() World Cancer Day 2017 Initiative by Project Pink Blue | |
Also called | WCD |
Observances | Awareness of cancer and its prevention |
Date | 4 February |
Next time | 4 February 2026 |
Frequency | Annual |
Related to | Cancer Disease |
World Cancer Day targets misinformation,raises awareness, and reduces stigma. Multiple initiatives are run on World Cancer Day to show support for those affected by cancer. Hundreds of events around the world also take place.
History
World Cancer Day was established on 4 February 2000 at the World Cancer Summit Against Cancer for the New Millennium, which was held in Paris.
The Charter of Paris against cancer, which was created to promote research, prevent cancer, improve patient services, also included an article establishing the anniversary of the document's official signing as World Cancer Day, was signed at the Summit by the then General Director of UNESCO, Kōichirō Matsuura, and then French President Jacques Chirac in Paris on 4 February 2000.
World Cancer Day themes

The theme for the years 2025-2027 is 'United by Unique, which "places people at the centre of care and their stories at the heart of the conversation."
The 2022-2024 campaign theme was 'Close the care gap' that focuses on eliminating the difference in access to cancer care services faced by populations of various groups of country income, age, gender, ethnicity etc.
The 2019-2021 campaign theme was 'I Am and I Will'. The theme seeks to counter the negative attitude and fatalistic belief that nothing can be done about cancer, and instead promotes how our personal actions can be powerful and impactful.
In 2016, World Cancer Day started a three-year campaign under the tagline of 'We can. I can.', which explored the power of collective and individual actions to reduce the impact of cancer. Prior to 2016, the campaign themes included "Not Beyond Us" (2015) and "Debunk the Myths" (2014).
Year | Theme |
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2025 -2027 | 'United by Unique' |
2022 -2024 | 'Close the care gap' |
2019 - 2021 | 'I Am and I Will.' |
2016 - 2018 | 'We can. I can.' |
2015 | Not Beyond Us |
2014 | Debunk the Myths |
2013 | Cancer Myths - Get the Facts |
2012 | Together let's do something |
2010 - 2011 | Cancer can be prevented |
2009 - 2010 | 'I love my healthy active childhood' |
Results
World Cancer Day is marked by the international cancer community, governments and individuals around the world. Each year, nearly 1,000 activities take place in over 100 countries,
World Cancer Day generates over 25,000 press mentions in more than 150 countries, half a million social media mentions, and trends each year on social media on 4 February.
In recent years, cities have begun to support the day by lighting up important landmarks in orange and blue – nearly 140 landmarks in 80 countries in 2024. At least 60 governments officially observe World Cancer Day.
See also
- Breast Cancer Awareness Month (October in the United States)
- National Prostate Health Month (September in the United States)
- World Lymphoma Awareness Day (15 September)
- World Health Observances
References
- "World Cancer Day 2013 One-Pager (English)". UICC. Retrieved 2 February 2013.
- "World Cancer Day". World Health Organization. Archived from the original on 6 February 2017. Retrieved 9 September 2018.
- Nations, United (6 January 2015). "International Days". United Nations.
- Szabo, Liz (3 February 2013). "World Cancer Day targets myths, spreads message". USA Today. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
- Gander, Kashmira (4 February 2016). "World Cancer Day: Why is the disease still a taboo?". The Independent. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
- "WCD | We Can. I Can". www.worldcancerday.org. Retrieved 9 September 2018.
- "World Summit Against Cancer for the New Millennium: Charter of Paris, 4 February 2000". UNESCO Digital Library.
- "World Cancer Day: Why the Fourth of February?". ASCO Connection. 19 March 2012.
- ""United by Unique", the new World Cancer Day theme 2025-2027 | World Cancer Day". www.worldcancerday.org. Retrieved 4 November 2024.
- "World Cancer Day Theme 2022-24". Retrieved 3 January 2023.
- "Campaign theme (I am and I will) | World Cancer Day". www.worldcancerday.org.
- "World Cancer Day 2016-2018 | WCD". www.worldcancerday.org. Retrieved 9 September 2018.
- World Cancer Day Theme 2025-2027
- World Cancer Day Theme 2022-2024
- "World Cancer Day 2018: Theme, goals and significance". The Indian Express. 4 February 2018. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
- "World Cancer Day 2015: 'Not Beyond Us' Campaign launched! | UICC". www.uicc.org. Retrieved 9 September 2018.
- "World Cancer Day 2014: Debunk the myths! | UICC". www.uicc.org. Retrieved 9 September 2018.
- "» Cancer Myths – Get the Facts on World Cancer Day – 4 Feb 2013 | CANSA – The Cancer Association of South Africa". www.cansa.org.za. 22 January 2013. Retrieved 9 September 2018.
- "World Cancer Day: "Stand Up To Cancer!" and End Mesothelioma and other Asbestos-Caused Cancers - ADAO - Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization". www.asbestosdiseaseawareness.org. 4 February 2012. Retrieved 9 September 2018.
- "World Cancer Day 2010". Healthcare-in-Europe.com. 3 February 2010.
- "World Cancer Day 2009". 4 February 2020.
- "World Cancer Day | Description, Facts, & History". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
- "World Cancer Day 2022-2024 campaign report".
External links

- Official website
- Union for International Cancer Control website
- World Health Organization
World Cancer Day is an international day marked on 4 February to raise awareness of cancer and to encourage its prevention detection and treatment World Cancer Day is led by the Union for International Cancer Control UICC to support the goals of the World Cancer Declaration written in 2008 The primary goal of World Cancer Day is to significantly reduce illness and death caused by cancer 1 and is an opportunity to rally the international community to end the injustice of preventable suffering from cancer 2 The day is observed by the United Nations 3 World Cancer DayWorld Cancer Day 2017 Initiative by Project Pink BlueAlso calledWCDObservancesAwareness of cancer and its preventionDate4 FebruaryNext time4 February 2026 2026 02 04 FrequencyAnnualRelated toCancer Disease World Cancer Day targets misinformation 4 raises awareness and reduces stigma 5 Multiple initiatives are run on World Cancer Day to show support for those affected by cancer Hundreds of events around the world also take place 6 Contents 1 History 2 World Cancer Day themes 3 Results 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksHistoryeditWorld Cancer Day was established on 4 February 2000 at the World Cancer Summit Against Cancer for the New Millennium which was held in Paris The Charter of Paris against cancer 7 which was created to promote research prevent cancer improve patient services also included an article establishing the anniversary of the document s official signing as World Cancer Day was signed at the Summit by the then General Director of UNESCO Kōichirō Matsuura and then French President Jacques Chirac in Paris on 4 February 2000 8 World Cancer Day themesedit nbsp World Cancer Day 2011 in Vienna The theme for the years 2025 2027 is United by Unique which places people at the centre of care and their stories at the heart of the conversation 9 The 2022 2024 campaign theme was Close the care gap that focuses on eliminating the difference in access to cancer care services faced by populations of various groups of country income age gender ethnicity etc 10 The 2019 2021 campaign theme was I Am and I Will The theme seeks to counter the negative attitude and fatalistic belief that nothing can be done about cancer and instead promotes how our personal actions can be powerful and impactful 11 In 2016 World Cancer Day started a three year campaign under the tagline of We can I can which explored the power of collective and individual actions to reduce the impact of cancer 12 Prior to 2016 the campaign themes included Not Beyond Us 2015 and Debunk the Myths 2014 Year Theme 2025 2027 United by Unique 13 2022 2024 Close the care gap 14 2019 2021 I Am and I Will 11 2016 2018 We can I can 15 2015 Not Beyond Us 16 2014 Debunk the Myths 17 2013 Cancer Myths Get the Facts 18 2012 Together let s do something 19 2010 2011 Cancer can be prevented 20 2009 2010 I love my healthy active childhood 21 ResultseditWorld Cancer Day is marked by the international cancer community governments and individuals around the world 22 Each year nearly 1 000 activities take place in over 100 countries World Cancer Day generates over 25 000 press mentions in more than 150 countries half a million social media mentions and trends each year on social media on 4 February 23 In recent years cities have begun to support the day by lighting up important landmarks in orange and blue nearly 140 landmarks in 80 countries in 2024 23 At least 60 governments officially observe World Cancer Day See alsoeditBreast Cancer Awareness Month October in the United States National Prostate Health Month September in the United States World Lymphoma Awareness Day 15 September World Health ObservancesReferencesedit World Cancer Day 2013 One Pager English UICC Retrieved 2 February 2013 World Cancer Day World Health Organization Archived from the original on 6 February 2017 Retrieved 9 September 2018 Nations United 6 January 2015 International Days United Nations Szabo Liz 3 February 2013 World Cancer Day targets myths spreads message USA Today Retrieved 4 February 2016 Gander Kashmira 4 February 2016 World Cancer Day Why is the disease still a taboo The Independent Retrieved 4 February 2016 WCD We Can I Can www worldcancerday org Retrieved 9 September 2018 World Summit Against Cancer for the New Millennium Charter of Paris 4 February 2000 UNESCO Digital Library World Cancer Day Why the Fourth of February ASCO Connection 19 March 2012 United by Unique the new World Cancer Day theme 2025 2027 World Cancer Day www worldcancerday org Retrieved 4 November 2024 World Cancer Day Theme 2022 24 Retrieved 3 January 2023 a b Campaign theme I am and I will World Cancer Day www worldcancerday org World Cancer Day 2016 2018 WCD www worldcancerday org Retrieved 9 September 2018 World Cancer Day Theme 2025 2027 World Cancer Day Theme 2022 2024 World Cancer Day 2018 Theme goals and significance The Indian Express 4 February 2018 Retrieved 4 February 2021 World Cancer Day 2015 Not Beyond Us Campaign launched UICC www uicc org Retrieved 9 September 2018 World Cancer Day 2014 Debunk the myths UICC www uicc org Retrieved 9 September 2018 Cancer Myths Get the Facts on World Cancer Day 4 Feb 2013 CANSA The Cancer Association of South Africa www cansa org za 22 January 2013 Retrieved 9 September 2018 World Cancer Day Stand Up To Cancer and End Mesothelioma and other Asbestos Caused Cancers ADAO Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization www asbestosdiseaseawareness org 4 February 2012 Retrieved 9 September 2018 World Cancer Day 2010 Healthcare in Europe com 3 February 2010 World Cancer Day 2009 4 February 2020 World Cancer Day Description Facts amp History Encyclopedia Britannica Retrieved 4 February 2021 a b World Cancer Day 2022 2024 campaign report External linksedit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to World Cancer Day Official website Union for International Cancer Control website World Health Organization Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title World Cancer Day amp oldid 1274155883
