UICC Launched the 2025–2027 World Cancer Day Campaign “United by Unique”

On 4th of November, UICC launched World Cancer Day’s new campaign for 2025-2027 with a call for people-centered care, placing the individual rather than the disease at the centre of health care decisions.

The first year of the United by Unique campaign, which will span three years, officially kicked off on Monday, November 4 in anticipation of World Cancer Day on Tuesday, February 4, 2025. The campaign will explore various aspects of people-centred cancer care and introduce innovative approaches to making a difference.

Over the next three years, it will guide the journey from raising awareness to driving action. The initiative aims to build a collective narrative that underscores the significance of compassionate, personalized care. Ultimately, it seeks to inspire meaningful and lasting change, showing that everyone plays a role in improving cancer care.

“As we launch the ‘United by Unique’ campaign on people-centred care, let’s focus on the power of our collective efforts. Each of us brings a unique perspective and strength to improve the quality of and access to cancer services. By working together and putting people at the heart of cancer care, we can make a real difference.” – Ulrika Årehed Kågström, President of UICC, Secretary General of Cancerfonden (Swedish Cancer Society)

This approach also highlights the significance of social connections, involving families and communities beyond the clinical environment. By engaging these relationships, people-centred care provides more holistic and humane care that addresses the individual’s physical, mental, and emotional needs.

Ultimately, this approach to cancer care fosters a community-driven model, improving health literacy, supporting self-care, and ensuring that health systems respond to the real-life needs of the populations they serve.

The slogan ‘United by Unique’ emphasizes that every person has a distinct story, set of needs, perspectives, and circumstances that must be considered when designing care and health systems. At the same time, it highlights the collective unity of the cancer community in its shared goal of taking action against cancer.

The World Cancer Day website has been updated with new branding for the campaign, designed to raise awareness of the unique needs of people living with cancer, all united in their efforts to manage their condition in the way that best suits them.

Explore the ‘United by Unique’ toolkit, posters, how-to guides, and other resources, and take part in the Upside Down Challenge to shift perspectives on cancer. UICC invites individuals to share videos or photos of themselves upside-down, along with their unique story about how cancer has affected them—whether as a patient, a loved one, a caregiver, or a healthcare professional. Numerous activities are planned leading up to February 4, 2025, and on the day itself.

On February 4, 2024, more than 900 events took place across 127 countries. World Cancer Day trended globally on X (formerly Twitter), generating over 500,000 social media posts, 750 million impressions, and more than 27,000 press mentions in 159 countries. Additionally, 138 landmarks were illuminated, and over 4,000 people signed the World Cancer Day Call to Action for greater equity in cancer services.

To help spread awareness, the UICC shared a video on its social media platforms throughout the day, offering people worldwide an opportunity to learn more about people-centred care and the campaign’s theme, “United by Unique”.

UICC:

“The 2025-2027 World Cancer Day campaign United By Unique has officially launched. This three-year campaign is all about people-centred care, focusing on the unique needs, stories, and perspectives of everyone affected by cancer.
Read more to find out how you can get involved”

Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu:

“The new World Cancer Day theme for 2025-2027, ‘United by Unique’ captures the personal reality of cancer and the urgent need for a compassionate, people-centered approach globally. In low- and middle-income countries, people living with cancer often face additional barriers: Stigmatization, limited access to treatment, human resource shortages, and underfunded healthcare systems that can leave patients feeling isolated and voiceless. Beyond the physical challenges, cancer brings emotional struggles as individuals navigate unfamiliar, and sometimes confusing, health systems while trying to manage the highs and lows of their journey.

Breaking down these barriers requires healthcare that sees each person for who they are and understands their unique needs. Shifting the focus from solely treating the disease to truly caring for the person behind it is not just effective – it’s essential.

Work must be done to build health systems that listen to patients, address disparities, and prioritize empathy. By creating space for each story, healthcare can better serve individuals and ultimately bring us closer to a world where compassionate care is the standard.

As we approach World Cancer Day on 5th February 2025, please visit the website to learn more about how you can get involved. World Cancer Day is an initiative of Union for International Cancer Control (UICC)”