The 20th Anniversary of World Cancer Day - February 4

January 30, 2020 by Angie Long

The burden of cancer in the United States is significant. In fact, over 1.7 million new cases of cancer are diagnosed each year in the US alone. Even more troubling is the fact that over 600,000 people die from cancer each year. In a country that is otherwise ahead of the curve in many ways, these are troubling statistics. One of those ways people are addressing it is by spreading awareness. That's what World Cancer Day aims to do. 

World Cancer Day is February 4 and has been celebrated since the year 2000. It started when six cancer experts gathered to draft a charter that detailed their vision for addressing the impact that cancer has on the world. Details of the charter included a plea for awareness of the need for access to quality care, funding for research and a deeper understanding for people who were suffering from cancer. Since that charter was signed by the president of France on Feb. 4, 2000, it has been adopted worldwide. 

This year marks the 20th anniversary of World Cancer Day. The theme for 2020 is "I Am and I Will," a motto that focuses on the power of the individual person and the impact they can make when they take action. 

World Cancer Day 2020

-How You Can Make an Impact-

There are ways everyone can observe World Cancer Day, whether you're an individual, a business owner or a student:

• Individuals can act on their potential to make a difference in the fight against cancer by heading to WorldCancerDay.org and downloading the Action Toolkit. 
• Businesses can use their influence to inspire employees, suppliers and customers and spread awareness by downloading and utilizing the tools in the Corporate Toolkit. 
• Schools and libraries can download the Schools and Libraries Toolkit, which is aimed at educating the next generation on the importance of the fight against cancer. 

While the toolkits are great places to start and provide loads of resources on ways you can observe World Cancer Day, you can also spread the word by creating a poster using the World Cancer Day website. Or, find activities like free cancer screenings, Facebook Live events, podcasts, "fun runs" and more!

-Why You Should Care-

Unless you have been affected by cancer yourself, it might be difficult to realize the sense of urgency when it comes to finding a cure and spreading awareness. These statistics from Cancer.gov should help:

• By the year 2030, experts predict an average of over 23 million new cases of cancer per year, worldwide.
• Cancer raises the cost of health care. In 2017, cancer expenditures totaled more than $147 billion, and those costs are expected to increase as the population ages and prevalence of cancer increases. 
• Despite the trend of cancer increasing, some progress is being made and the number of cancer survivors is also increasing. Still, there is more work to be done.

Besides raising awareness for cancer and the need for a cure, you can always donate money to charities like City of Hope. Otherwise, you can do your part by simply spreading the word and being more understanding of cancer patients and the families who care for them! Be sure to check out all the other important holidays in February, not including Valentine's Day.