World Cancer Day 2026, February 4th.

FORUM: "United by Unique" World Cancer Day 2026. The day will highlight the importance of person-centred cancer care. Every experience with cancer is unique and it will take all of us, united, to create a world where we look beyond the disease and see the person before the patient. The UICC’s Campaign recognizes that every experience with cancer is unique, and every individual has unique needs, perspectives, and stories. The organization underscored that individuals affected by cancer are united in a shared ambition to see governments implement policies to improve cancer prevention and deliver health systems that treat patients with cancer effectively and successfully—resulting in greater survival rates and longer lives after cancer. Follow the conversation with the hashtags: #cancercare, #CancerResearch, #cancer, #4February, #WorldCancerDay, #UnitedbyUnique.

EVENTS: Join the WHO/PAHO on Wednesday, February 4th at 10:00 a.m. (Washington DC, or EST) to participate to the World Cancer Day 2026 event entitled "Supporting the elimination of cervical cancer". This event will bring together experts and representatives from key organizations to address the challenges and opportunities in the fight against cancer, sharing progress, experiences, and establishing commitments to improve access to medicines in the region. Organized in commemoration of World Cancer Day, this webinar highlights the initiative to accelerate the elimination of cervical cancer in Latin America and the Caribbean. The event emphasizes the specific goals of the elimination initiative: achieving 90% HPV vaccination coverage, 70% screening with a high-performance test, and 90% treatment coverage for precancerous lesions and invasive cancer by 2030. This webinar aims to strengthen the fight against cancer in the region by promoting effective collaboration and joint actions to reach ambitious targets in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of cervical cancer.

Objectives

• Present the role and vision of AECID and Unitaid for the elimination of cervical cancer globally and regionally.
• Launch of the Cervical Cancer Dashboard.
• Launch of a tool for cervical cancer planning in the region.
• Regional Revolving Funds present available products to eliminate cervical cancer.

Agenda
Moderator: Mauricio Maza, Regional Advisor, Cancer Prevention and Control, PAHO
10:00 a.m. Opening remarksJarbas Barbosa, Director, PAHO
Anselm Hennis, Director, Department of Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health
10:10 a.m. AECID vision to support cervical cancer eliminationOriana Ramírez Rubio, Head of Health Area, Directorate of Sectoral, European and Multilateral Cooperation, AECID
10:25 a.m. Screening Experience in Antigua and Barbuda and Its Vision to Eliminate Cervical CancerSmiljka de Lussigny, Programme Manager, Diagnostics and cervical cancer, Unitaid
10:40 a.m. Launch of Cervical Cancer Dashboard Mauricio Maza, Regional Advisor, Cancer Prevention and Control, PAHO
10:55 a.m. Planning tool for HPV screening and treatmentSara Benitez Majano, PAHO
11:10 a.m. PAHO Regional Revolving Funds and their role in cervical cancer eliminationSantiago Cornejo, Director, Regional Revolving Funds, PAHO
11:25 a.m. Closing RemarksSilvana Luciani, Unit Chief, Noncommunicable Diseases, PAHO
Time in other cities7:00 a.m. – Los Angeles, Vancouver.
9:00 a.m. - Belmopan, Guatemala City, Managua, Mexico City, San Salvador, San José (CR), Tegucigalpa.
10:00 a.m. - Bogotá, Havana, Kingston, Lima, Port-au-Prince, Nassau, Ottawa, Panama City, Quito, Washington D.C.
11:00 a.m. – Bridgetown, Caracas, Georgetown, La Paz, Port of Spain, San Juan, Santo Domingo, Saint George´s, Saint John´s (Antigua).
12:00 p.m. - Asunción, Buenos Aires, Brasilia, Montevideo, Paramaribo, Santiago.
4:00 p.m. – Geneva, Madrid.

How to participate: For other cities, please refer to the local time at this link.
LANGUAGES: Spanish and English, with simultaneous interpretation. REGISTER TO PARTICIPATE!

On February 4th, various activities will take place globally, including the "5k Challenge" by the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC), encouraging individuals from all backgrounds to participate in activities such as running, cycling, swimming, hiking or walking to symbolize closing the gap in care. Additionally, there will be "21-day challenges" for individuals to create new healthy habits, raise awareness about cervical cancer, and educate themselves about inequalities in accessing cancer services. View the map of activities!

On February 12th, 2026, from 06:00 pm CET and 12:00 pm EST. The MDPI will host a webinar to mark the World Cancer Day 2026. In 2026, MDPI is honored to support World Cancer Day through a monthly awareness ries beginning in February. Each session will focus on a key cancer awareness theme, showcasing cutting-edge research and expert insights through specially curated landing pages and a dedicated webinar series. Through this special activity, we aim to sustain engagement and cross-disciplinary collaboration throughout the year. Explore the list of events. The Keynote Speakers are Dr. Xiang Xue, University of New Mexico, USA; Dr. Federico Pio Fabrizio, Kore University of Enna, Italy; Dr. Anis Ahmad, University of Miami, USA; Dr. Hiroaki Kiyokawa, Northwestern University, USA. Register for this webinar for free here!

CAMPAIGN: Behind every diagnosis lies a unique human story - stories of grief, pain, healing, resilience, love and more. That’s why a people-centred approach to cancer care that fully integrates each individual’s unique needs, with compassion and empathy, leads to the best health outcomes. The "United by Unique" campaign will begin its journey by inviting individuals from all walks of life to share their personal cancer stories. Much like people-centred care aims to see the individual behind the disease, the campaign intends to showcase real stories with unique perspectives. Whether it’s someone living with cancer, a family member, a caregiver, a medical professional, an advocate, or an ally, every person’s experience with cancer, the diverse challenges each faces, and how people-centred care could respond to their unique situation. By bringing these stories together into one place, the campaign aims to build a rich collection of voices that serves as a striking illustration of what is meant by “United by Unique”: every person is one of a kind, but no one is alone in the aim to take meaningful and lasting action against cancer. This year is all about recognizing and validating each unique experience, fostering a sense of community and shared purpose among those affected by cancer; Let's come together to rewrite the future of cancer care - one where the needs of people and communities come first. Join the campaign!

Relevant Special Issues

Cancers
"Cancer Immunotherapy as Part of Precision Clinical Medicine" Guest Editors: Prof. Dr. Peter Lang and Dr. Christo Kole
"Improving the Quality of Life in Patients with Gynecological Cancer" Guest Editor: Dr. Vasilios Pergialiotis
Current Oncology
"Health Disparities and Outcomes in Cancer Survivors" Guest Editor: Dr. Claire Jungyoun Han.
"Advances in Implementation Science and Knowledge Mobilization for Cancer Control" Guest Editor: Dr. Sarah Neil-Sztramko
Onco
"Liquid Biopsy and Peripheral Immune Status in Cancer Therapy Response".

Statement of the the WHO Africa Director-General Dr. Mohamed Janabi on World Cancer Day 2026,


Cancer is no longer a silent crisis in Africa. It is a growing public health emergency that demands urgent, equitable and sustained action.

On World Cancer Day today, the World Health Organization joins governments, partners and communities across the continent to reaffirm a clear commitment: cancer can be prevented, detected earlier and treated more effectively – and every life saved matters.

In the WHO African Region, cancer is becoming one of the leading causes of premature death. Each year, more than 1 million new cases are diagnosed, and nearly 1 million people lose their lives to the disease. Behind these numbers are mothers, fathers, children and young people whose lives are cut short not because solutions do not exist, but because access to those solutions remains unequal.

Cancer is not only a health issue. It is also a development challenge. It strains families, weakens health systems and undermines economic progress. The burden falls disproportionately on those with the least access to early detection, timely treatment and financial protection.

The past year has demonstrated what is possible when cancer control becomes a national priority. Countries across the Region have expanded HPV vaccination, strengthened cervical cancer screening services, improved access to childhood cancer care, and begun integrating palliative care into routine health services. These are important foundations for long-term survival gains.

Yet, major gaps persist. Delayed diagnosis remains common. Service interruptions disrupt continuity of care. Specialized health workers are in short supply. Access to radiotherapy, pathology and essential cancer medicines remains extremely limited in many settings. For too many families, the cost of care is catastrophic.

Too often, a woman is screened but never treated.

Too often, a child is diagnosed too late.

Too often, families must choose between seeking care and meeting basic needs.

This is not acceptable.

WHO will continue to support African countries through evidence-based global and regional initiatives, including the Global Strategy to Eliminate Cervical Cancer, the Global Breast Cancer Initiative, the Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer, the Global Platform for Access to Childhood Cancer Medicines, and Women’s Integrated Cancer Services.

But these initiatives will only succeed if they are fully embedded in national health systems, sustainably financed, and translated into concrete services at the primary health care level.

We must invest in what works: HPV vaccination; high-performance screening tests; decentralized treatment of precancerous lesions; strengthened surgical, radiotherapy and pathology capacity; reliable access to essential cancer medicines; and the integration of palliative care from the time of diagnosis.

We must measure progress not by strategies written, but by girls vaccinated, cancers detected early, patients treated timeously, financial hardship reduced, and lives saved.

On this World Cancer Day, I call for decisive action at every level:

Governments must make cancer control a development priority, integrating prevention, early detection, treatment and palliative care into national budgets, universal health coverage reforms and primary health care systems.


Partners and donors must invest in high-impact, integrated and sustainable programmes.


Health workers must continue to lead with skill and compassion, bringing services closer to communities and strengthening trust in care.


People living with cancer and survivors must remain central to national responses, not only as beneficiaries of care, but as advocates and partners in change.

Africa can change the trajectory of cancer. But this will require sustained political will, stronger domestic investment, resilient health systems and an unwavering commitment to equity and accountability.

Let us move from commitments to measurable results, from strategies to services, and ensure that no one in Africa is left behind in the fight against cancer.

Together, we can secure a future where every person has access to prevention, early diagnosis, quality treatment and dignified care.

WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Mohamed Janabi.

OTHER STATEMENTS: Read the statement of the World Health Organization South-East Asia Region - WHO SEARO Director on World Cancer Day 2026, February 4th; The Statement of Dr Tedros; WHO Director General on World Cancer Day 2026 and the statement of the PAHO Director-General on World Cancer Day 2026; February 4th.

COMMUNICATION MATERIALS: Accompany your message with your own custom social media poster or one of the World Cancer Day social media cards.

World Cancer Day 2023; February 4th.

FORUM: "Close the Gap." World Cancer Day 2023.

The Day will focus on examining the socioeconomic factors that lead to disparities in cancer prevention, incidence and survival, such as cultural and gender norms, income and education levels, and biases based on age, gender, ethnicity, disability and lifestyle. Additionally, there will be a call for increased action to improve cancer awareness, prevent cancer, support advancements in diagnostics and treatment, and address the shortcomings in health systems highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic. There will also be opportunities for interviews with WHO and partners in different regions and WHO countries worldwide. World Cancer Day aims to promote awareness on cancer as a public health issue and to strengthen actions towards improving access to quality care, screening, early detection, treatment and palliative care. This year’s theme marks the second year of the campaign “close the care gap” which is about understanding the inequities in cancer care and taking actions to make the necessary progress to address them.

EVENTS: On World Cancer Day 2023, various activities will take place globally, including the "5k Challenge" by the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC), encouraging individuals from all backgrounds to participate in activities such as running, cycling, swimming, hiking or walking to symbolize closing the gap in care. Additionally, there will be "21-day challenges" for individuals to create new healthy habits, raise awareness about cervical cancer, and educate themselves about inequalities in accessing cancer services.

Statement from the WHO Regional Director for Africa on World Cancer Day 2023; February 4th.

                          

A young girl from Rwanda with a tumor the size of a cauliflower on her face met a doctor. The young girl was one of the doctor’s first patients. The girl’s father, a subsistence farmer, had tried traditional solutions, but the tumor had grown, and his expenses too. The family needed an oncologist. Eventually, the doctor called the one who talked her through the treatment that saved the girl’s life.


We join the international community commemorating World Cancer Day today, 4 February 2023. The theme of this year is “Close the care Gap: Uniting our voices and taking action.” This year’s campaign summons like-minded people to be united as we build stronger alliances and new innovative collaborations in the fight against cancer.


Cancer is a public health issue of major concern.


The numbers are stark. Approximately 1.1 million new cancer cases occur each year in Africa, with about 700,000 deaths. Data estimates show a considerable increase in cancer mortality to nearly one million deaths per year by 2030, without urgent and bold interventions.


We should recall that the most common cancers in adults include breast (16.5%), cervical (13.1%), prostate (9.4%), Colorectal (6%), and liver (4.6%) cancers, contributing to nearly half of the new cancer cases. With significant data challenges, childhood cancer incidence in sub-Saharan Africa is estimated at 56.3 per million population. Current projections show that Africa will account for nearly 50% of the global childhood cancer burden by 2050, compelling expeditious efforts to confront this concern, as was done for the young girl from Rwanda.


In that view, it is important to celebrate some achievements we have made as a region, at the country level. Twelve countries in the region have valid National Cancer Control Plans. WHO is supporting eleven additional countries in developing or updating their National Cancer Control Plans aligned to the global cancer initiatives coupled with the presence of governance structures at the government level to implement Cancer Plans.


Countries such as Ghana, Senegal, Zambia, and Senegal have developed National Treatment Guidelines for childhood cancer. Twenty-five countries have developed and are using Cancer Guidelines. Political will remains significant in improving the cancer landscape. Including childhood cancer medicines in the National Health Insurance Scheme in Ghana and Zambia is a good example. Such a strategic action will significantly contribute to the increase in survival rates for children with cancer in these countries.


We are collaborating with Childhood Cancer International to develop and pilot the Mental Health and Psychosocial Support guidelines for children in Burkina Faso. It is gratifying to note the steady increase of HPV vaccination national introduction by 51% of countries in the region, although coverage remains concerning
at 21%.


Currently, 16 countries have introduced high-performance-based screening tests in line with WHO recommendations and plan to scale up cervical cancer screening. The introduction of gynecologic oncology Fellowships for improved access to cervical cancer treatment services in Malawi and Zambia is commendable and innovative.


Working closely with the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) in cancer registration, we launched three collaborating centers in Cote d’Ivoire, Kenya, and South Africa. The centers will facilitate capacity building for local staff and improve data quality for effective decision-making.


Despite these achievements, stumbling blocks remain on our path. These include the low availability of Population Based Cancer Registries; limited health promotion; inadequate access to primary prevention and early detection services; the scarcity of diagnostic facilities that increase delays in diagnosis and treatment. Provision of palliative care is rare in Africa, notwithstanding the significant need for it. Africa has only 3% of the world’s cancer treatment facilities, with radiotherapy available in just 22 countries in sub-Saharan Africa, contributing to very low survival rates.

By uniting voices and action, we can address cancer at individual and community levels: Choosing healthy lifestyles, getting vaccinated, and getting routinely screened against preventable cancers. Parents have the responsibility to ensure their eligible daughters receive HPV vaccines.


I call on Governments to develop/update national cancer control plans, provide sustainable financing and invest in cancer registration. I encourage Governments to incorporate cancer care into essential benefits packages and national health insurance systems. It is also critical to ensure adequate infrastructure for human resource, screening, diagnostics, and treatment. There is equally a need to expand the use of digital health and establish relevant trainings for the cancer workforce.


Finally, cancer survivors can lend their voices as advocates for better cancer services. As persons with lived experience, they should be involved designing cancer services at all levels of health care.


Let us unite against cancer and take action to make universal health for cancer prevention, treatment and care a reality in Africa.

Dr Matshidiso Moeti.

CAMPAIGN: In 2023, the global cancer community commemorates World Cancer Day, on February 4, with the slogan "Close the care gap", and the call to unite our voices and take action. PAHO joins this campaign to call everyone, collectively and individually, to commit to strengthen actions aimed to improve access to quality care, including screening, early detection, treatment and palliative care.
Join us to reduce the impact of cancer!

CAMPAIGN MATERIALS: Let’s unite to make the world aware to close the gap in cancer care. Get the communications materials!