United by Unique: Centering Care Around People and Their Stories

In the inaugural event of the Global Cancer Movement, initiated by OncoDaily, Cary Adams dives into the transformative initiatives of the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) and the impact of World Cancer Day on global advocacy. This session unveils the powerful new three-year theme, United by Unique, which highlights the importance of personalized care and the diverse journeys of those affected by cancer.

Cary Adams highlights the importance of the UICC (Union for International Cancer Control) in addressing these issues and mentions the Atom Coalition, a global initiative focused on improving access to cancer treatment worldwide.

They emphasize UICC’s role in advocating for cancer control and highlight the organization’s focus on global collaboration, as seen in initiatives like World Cancer Day, which is celebrated annually on February 4th. This day serves as a platform for the global cancer community to raise awareness and speak with one voice about the need for better cancer control and treatment.

The speaker outlines the major successes of World Cancer Day in 2024, noting hundreds of global events, widespread media engagement, and a strong social media presence, with the World Cancer Day hashtag trending globally. They share statistics from the event, such as over 750 million social media impressions and 27,000 press mentions worldwide.

The speaker points out that World Cancer Day has become one of the largest health days on the calendar, with participation from a broad spectrum of individuals and organizations, including media outlets, celebrities, sports teams, researchers, and pharmaceutical companies. This wide participation helps amplify the day’s impact and ensure the global cancer message reaches as many people as possible.

The speaker discusses the evolving themes of World Cancer Day, which are run in three-year cycles. The theme for the past three years was “Close the Care Gap,” focusing on equity in cancer care, and the upcoming theme for the next cycle (2025-2027) will be “United by Unique.” This new theme emphasizes the personal and unique nature of each cancer experience, recognizing the physical, emotional, and situational differences that shape individual cancer journeys. It advocates for placing people at the center of decisions regarding cancer care, from prevention and diagnosis to treatment and rehabilitation.

The speaker stresses the importance of a people-first approach rooted in empathy and compassion. By focusing on these human experiences, the cancer community aims to foster a more compassionate, patient-centered approach to cancer care globally.

A key aspect of the new campaign is the collection of personal stories from cancer patients, caregivers, and survivors. These stories will be featured on the World Cancer Day website and shared on social media to build awareness and advocacy. T

he speaker shares examples of inspiring stories, such as Jim, who has survived cancer eight times, and Ian from Ireland, who, after being diagnosed with terminal cancer, became an advocate and raised awareness through marathons. These narratives are intended to highlight the diverse and powerful experiences of those affected by cancer and to emphasize the need for more patient-centered care.

The speaker introduces a creative social media challenge called the “Upside Down Challenge,” which aims to visually represent how cancer can turn lives upside down. Participants are encouraged to share videos or photos of themselves in upside-down positions, symbolizing the disruption that a cancer diagnosis can cause. This challenge is designed to engage people in a unique way and spread awareness about cancer’s impact. The speaker notes that this initiative has already generated excitement among UICC members and is expected to gain significant traction on social media.

The speaker concludes by expressing gratitude to the organizations and sponsors that support World Cancer Day and the UICC’s efforts. They encourage attendees of the event to consider how they and their organizations can use World Cancer Day to share their messages and advocate for patient-centered cancer care. The speaker calls on everyone to engage in the campaign, share stories, and use the power of global collaboration to bring about meaningful change in the fight against cancer.

The presentation wraps up with a reminder to support the UICC’s ongoing work and stay connected to future World Cancer Day campaigns.