World Cancer Day- Awareness, Education, Prevention
February 4th is World Cancer Day. It is a day recognized and observed around the world. What is the purpose?
To raise awareness, provide educational opportunities, and ultimately prevent some of the deaths that occur because of this dreadful disease.
What is World Cancer Day?
World Cancer Day was created by the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC). The day is dedicated to taking steps toward a world where cancers and cancer-related deaths that might be prevented actually are.
World Cancer Day also seeks to eradicate inequalities that exist regarding cancer diagnosis, treatments, and other resources.
What Can You Do to Participate in World Cancer Day?
There are hundreds of activities and events being held across the globe to advance the goals of the UICC and World Cancer Day. There are fundraisers, education programs, free screening opportunities, and more.
You can get involved as little or as much as you would like. Here are some things you can do to recognize World Cancer Day:
- Join an event- a fundraiser, walk, run, sale, sporting event, survivor night, or another scheduled cancer-related event
- Spend time with someone you know who has cancer or ask if there are ways you can help them or their family members.
- Write to a national, state, or local political figure asking for funding, programming, or a commitment to make cancer prevention a priority.
- Organize an event of your own- an educational event, assembly, or program to learn about or support and encourage cancer prevention
- Make a financial donation to a cancer organization that supports the goals of World Cancer Day
- Seek out and spend time with a cancer survivor
- Offer to give a caregiver a much-needed break
- Do something nice for someone with cancer such as sending a gift or cooking a meal
- Make a social media post about the importance of cancer prevention and ways to reduce the risks of getting cancer
- Have a chat with someone you know about cancer-discuss signs of cancer, the importance of early detection, and prevention
- Make an appointment to get a cancer screening-maybe a mammogram, a colonoscopy, or a skin-cancer check.
- Visit: https://www.worldcancerday.org/take-action for other ways to participate in World Cancer Day Activities around the globe.
Why Is World Cancer Day Important?
Cancer touches all of our lives. It does not know from borders, race, age, or gender. We all know someone battling cancer or someone who has passed away from cancer, most likely too young. Cancer kills approximately 10 million people around the globe annually. World Cancer Day is important because this disease continues to decimate populations. Inequities in treatments, education, and early detection contribute to the high rate of fatalities in lesser-developed nations.
World Cancer Day is one to focus on ways to remedy some of the inequities. It is also a day to help people understand that some of these deaths can be prevented. World Cancer Day seeks to remedy some of the inequities and prevent deaths in a variety of ways. The UICC states on its website: “The more we know, the more progress we can make in reducing risk factors, increasing prevention, and improving cancer diagnosis, prevention, treatment, and care.”
On World Cancer Day, Send Someone a Helpful Cancer Gift Box From Rock the Treatment
World Cancer Day might be February 4th, but every day is a good one to let someone know you care. If someone you love has cancer, send them a helpful cancer gift basket from Rock The Treatment. Chemotherapy and radiation gift baskets are packed with the essentials needed to ease side effects of treatment, as well as enhance physical and mental well-being. See all of our cancer care packages and find the one that best supports their journey.
