Abuja: Thousands of individuals, organisations, and communities worldwide will mark World Cancer Day 2026 on Feb. 4, raising awareness of the prevention, early detection, and treatment of cancer through coordinated advocacy and education.
This is contained in a statement by the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) on Wednesday in Abuja.
It said the 2026 commemoration will continue with the theme “United by Unique,” emphasising cancer care approaches that recognised individuality and met the specific medical, social, and emotional needs of patients.
UICC said the campaign would highlight experiences of people living with cancer, caregivers, and health workers to identify gaps in care, inform policy responses, and strengthen national and global health systems.
It added that the organisation was collecting stories from diverse regions to understand how social and economic conditions shape access to cancer prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and supportive services for affected populations.
As part of activities ahead of the day, UICC announced a creative project titled “12 people. 12 cameras. 12 months,” supported by Fujifilm, documenting the daily lives of people affected by cancer.
“The project will capture emotional and social aspects of cancer care that are sometimes overlooked, offering deeper insight into patient experiences, family challenges, and the realities faced by caregivers,” it said.
The organisation said the 2025 campaign recorded more than 900 activities across 102 countries, involving more than 60 national governments and generating extensive traditional media coverage and significant social media engagement globally.
World Cancer Day, marked every Feb. 4 since 2000, aims to increase awareness of cancer risks, promote early detection, and improve equitable access to effective treatment worldwide.
UICC, founded in 1933, is the world’s oldest international cancer organisation, with more than 1,150 member organisations working across over 170 countries to advance global cancer control research, advocacy, and collaboration.