World Cancer Day (4th February): History, Theme & Observance

 

WORLD CANCER DAY (4th FEBRUARY)

    

World Cancer Day is a global observance day celebrated on February 4th to raise awareness about cancer and to encourage its prevention, detection, and treatment.  

 

World Cancer Day is an International Day marked on February 4th every year to raise awareness about the Cancer disease and to encourage its prevention, detection and treatment. It is observed to significantly reduce illness and death caused by Cancer.

 

World Cancer Day Special:

The World Cancer Day 2025 theme is "United by Unique," a three-year campaign that began in 2025 and focuses on the importance of personalized, people-centered cancer care by highlighting the unique aspects of each person's cancer journey while emphasizing the unity of purpose to overcome the disease. This theme encourages empathy, understanding, and tailoring treatments to meet individual needs, aiming to foster a more inclusive and effective global fight against cancer. 

The theme for World Cancer Day in 2022 to 2024 was 'Close the Care Gap'. This multi-year theme, focused on addressing inequities in cancer care and advocating for equitable access to quality services for all individuals, regardless of socioeconomic status, location, or other factors, emphasizing that everyone deserves a fair chance at preventing, diagnosing, and treating cancer. 

The theme of World Cancer Day for the year 2022 was "I am and I will" which means I am suffering from cancer and I will beat it. This theme was put in place to uphold the resolve not to break itself from cancer.

The year 2025 is the 25th anniversary of World Cancer Day.

The UICC (Union for International Cancer Control) released a survey report on the occasion of World Cancer Day. In which every year death due to cancer is shown. In the year 2020, 63% of the total number of people lost from tobacco products worldwide. So at the same time 54% people have died due to ultraviolet rays. In this order, 28% people have been suffering from cancer due to not exercising and about 29% have become cancer victims due to excess weight.

Noel Coats, Director and CEO of the Pink Drive Cancer Foundation, expressed his opinion on cancer prevention among people through a seminar.

On the occasion of World Cancer Day, several newspapers published the journey of some of the greatest personalities of the film world, who had cancer earlier.

Buildings such as Asia, Europe, Valencia, Spain's City of Science Museum, Muscat's Royal Opera House and Empire State are decorated with blue and orange lights at some of the world's most famous locations.

 

History of World Cancer Day:

The plan to commemorate World Cancer Day was launched in Geneva, Switzerland in 1933 under the control of the UICC (Universal International Cancer Control) and with the help of various other renowned cancer societies, research institutes, and treatment centres and patients groups. To control and fight this deadly disease, World Cancer Day program was established to fulfil all the requirements.

 

Report on World Cancer Day:

To create awareness of the same, the students of our Presidium school observed a special assembly on 4th February. The special assembly began with a prayer followed by the pledge to help the needy. A short speech on 'Why do we celebrate World Cancer Day?' was delivered.

  

As part of the initiative, Presidium School presented a school assembly on 4^th February in the school auditorium. A theme based drama - ‘It’s all about the fight, not the fright’ highlighted the brave battles of the cancer patients without getting disheartened and losing hope and removed wrong myths about the disease from the minds of the people. The assembly covered different aspects such as well-known world personalities who are cancer survivors, counselling of cancer patients, special initiatives of NGOs and hospitals, advances of medical science and technology to fight the disease and the lesser known cancer facts. 

The Principal reiterated the significance of the day and emphasized the importance of healthy and nutritious food. Two representatives of American Oncology Institute were part of the assembly. They explained through power point presentation and audio-visual aids what is Cancer and how to keep ourselves and our loved ones protected from the deadly disease.

 

The assembly also ignited empathy and affection in students for cancer patients and made them realize that the cancer patients need our love, care and support.

 

The health officers of the country continually strive to keep our health and wellness at the fore. Driven by the same passion, the school authorities bring to the parents an exclusive online dialogue on health and wellness, this World Cancer Day on 4^th February. We are sure this would be a dedicated step towards conquering cancer together.

A talk show organized in which one of the country’s leading Oncologist Dr. Ashok Vaid- Chairman, Medical Oncology & Hematology, Medanta Hospital and Sonali Bendre, who as a cancer survivor has inspired thousands battling for hope. The session shall also have Mr. Arvind Vohra, joining as a guest speaker.

The key aspects covered were:

• ·        Prevention and cancer care
• ·        Importance of protecting oneself from the colossal expense of the treatment.

 

“Surviving cancer is not the end of a gruesome story but the beginning of a beautiful one”.

 

 Also Read: School Report on World Cancer Day