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Why people-centred cancer care matters now more than ever – UICC

Ulrika Arehed Kagstrom/lifesciencesweden.se

Feb 2, 2025, 02:31

Why people-centred cancer care matters now more than ever – UICC

Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) shared a post on LinkedIn by Ulrika Årehed Kågström, UICC President, adding:

“As World Cancer Day approaches on 4 February, UICC President Ulrika Årehed Kågström highlights why people-centred cancer care matters now more than ever.

Be part of the movement – take action at worldcancerday.org.”

Quoting Ulrika Årehed Kågström’s post:

” ‘This is moving too fast. I need time to process. I want to postpone the surgery. It might sound silly, but there are so many thoughts spinning in my head… I want to feel involved in my care. I had prepared questions, but the conversation moved so quickly, and then it was just… ‘We’ll book you in for surgery.’ But I want to know what this means for me, how it will affect me and my life.’

This quote, from someone navigating a cancer diagnosis, reflects a sentiment we encounter far too often. Despite feeling safe within the care system, individuals frequently express a longing for more involvement in their own healthcare journey.

Cancer can bring a profound sense of losing control. For many, retaining agency over even small decisions becomes vital to coping. Yet, our current health systems around the world don’t always prioritize this. Patients tell us that they feel unheard, uninformed, or rushed into treatments they don’t fully understand. Some even go so far as to avoid care altogether to protect their autonomy.

Through our work, we see firsthand how simply listening can be transformative. Taking the time to hear someone out, to adapt to their individual needs, and to ensure they feel seen as a person – not just a diagnosis – can turn uncertainty into empowerment.

This is also the heart of this year’s World Cancer Day campaign United By Unique, which will explore different dimensions of people-centred cancer care.

As we now come together to spotlight this issue, we encourage you all to share your experiences, ideas, and insights—together, we can work towards a healthcare system that sees people for who they are and their individual needs.

Find out how you can get involved at worldcancerday.org.”

Proceed to the video attached to the post.

More posts featuring UICC and Ulrika Årehed Kågström.