Days Until World Cancer Day

About World Cancer Day

February 4 was established following the 2000 World Summit Against Cancer in Paris, under the leadership of the Union for International Cancer Control, aiming to raise awareness and encourage prevention, detection, and treatment of the disease worldwide.

Each year's observance follows a multi-year thematic campaign framework, addressing specific barriers to global cancer care and prevention.

The World Health Organization estimates cancer is among the leading causes of death worldwide, with roughly a third of common cancer types considered preventable through known risk-factor reduction, a statistic central to the day's prevention messaging.

The observance's messaging has shifted over multiple UICC campaign cycles from broad awareness toward more specific calls to action, including closing gaps in cancer care access between wealthier and lower-income countries.

The observance's advocacy has repeatedly stressed that a meaningful share of cancer cases are linked to preventable risk factors, including tobacco use, alcohol consumption, and specific infections, rather than being unavoidable.