World Cancer Day 2022 is now only one month away. Organized every 4 February and led by the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC), World Cancer Day is a global initiative that aims to inspire greater awareness of cancer and action in better preventing, detecting and treating the disease.

World Cancer Day 2022 marks the first year of a new three-year campaign centred on the issue of equity. The campaign theme ‘Close the care gap’ recognizes the power of knowledge and challenges assumptions. This first year of the new campaign raises awareness about the lack of equity in cancer care and explains the barriers that exist for many people in accessing services and receiving the care they need – and how these barriers potentially reduce a person’s chance of surviving cancer.

This year follows on from the success of last year’s campaign at the height of the pandemic. 840 activities took place in 116 countries, 152 iconic monuments in 91 cities were lit up in the colour orange for World Cancer Day, over 20,000 press articles were published in 156 countries, and nearly 700,000 social media posts were shared, including at the highest levels from US President Joe Biden, French President Emanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson. More than 110,000 campaign materials were downloaded from the website, with 50,000 custom posters generated by visitors.

Download background factsheet on World Cancer Day and the global cancer context

What to expect on World Cancer Day 2022:

  • An in-depth look at the socioeconomic factors that create wide disparities in cancer prevention, incidence and survival: cultural contexts, gender norms, income and education levels, as well as prejudices, discrimination and assumptions based on age, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, disability and lifestyle.      
  • A call for renewed action to improve cancer awareness, practice cancer prevention, support innovations in diagnostics and treatment, and address inequities and weaknesses in health systems exposed by COVID-19.
  • Opportunities for interviews with global cancer leaders from UICC as well as cancer organizations in the US, the UK, Australia, India, Kenya, Nigeria, Malaysia and South Africa.
  • Global press materials available for download: www.worldcancerday.org/press-media
  • Social media graphics and videos.
  • Hundreds of activities taking place around the world to generate support for the global fight against cancer.
  • Global landmarks around the world including in Australia, Brunei, Japan, Singapore and Turkey will illuminate with World Cancer Day colours, orange and blue.