World Cancer Day

Today is World Cancer Day, an event sponsored by the Union for International Cancer Control. In case you are wondering what "cancer control" is, here is how the UICC defines it:

Cancer control aims to reduce the incidence, morbidity and mortality of cancer and to improve the quality of life of cancer patients in a defined population, through the systematic implementation of evidence-based interventions for prevention, early detection, diagnosis, treatment, and palliative care.

 In other words, their aim is to support cancer patients throughout the cancer experience, from preventing it from happening to making them more comfortable when they do have it. 

And so Word Cancer Day is meant as a day of awareness. As I have said in the past, I'm really not in need of awareness -- I am made of aware of cancer literally every day of my life. But cancer awareness is about making others aware, and World Cancer Day is not different from mother awareness campaigns. Making others aware means helping them prevent it, detect it, and support funding for research to get rid of it. All of that matters -- those of us who have been diagnosed know that all too well.

The theme for this year -- actually for the last three years -- has been "Close the Care Gap." The UICC wants to highlight the disparities in cancer. Not everyone is able to get screened, or diagnosed, or treated in an equal way. So over three years, they have highlighted the problem, the ways that action can be taken, and now this year,  they encourage is all to "challenge those in power." Together, we can demand that leaders prioritize cancer and its eradication.

It's a great goal, and anyone who has been unable to get what they need really understands what this theme is all about. In the United States, cancer care is often a problem because of our healthcare system, which certainly creates disparities. I'm guessing many of you have had the experience of not being able to get something you wanted or needed. But that's not just a problem in the United States. Health systems in other countries need to prioritize care, meaning some treatments aren't available to some patients. And in still other countries, some treatments that have been approved in the US or the EU are not available to patients.

So this year's World Cancer Day is about working to make those differences go away. Doing so can be as simple as clicking on the "Call to Action" link on the World Cancer Day website. Or maybe there's more you want to do. A group like the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society would welcome your help in getting our leaders to pay more attention to the needs of cancer patients.

So while World Cancer Day only lasts for one day, the need keeps on going. And there are are lots of opportunities to  help.

Of course, lots of cancer patients don't ave the energy or the resources to do what they'd like, and that's OK, too. We do what we can.

But for those of you who can, please do consider spreading awareness and getting the message out. It can only help you.