World Cancer Day, held annually on February 4, is a global initiative led by the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC).  This year’s event calls on the oncology community to “close the care gap,” with a focus on recognizing and understanding the inequities in cancer care and working to address them. In the United States, such inequities have been exacerbated during COVID-19, as patients struggle with everything from cost of care, to commuting several hours to appointments, to not having the broadband capacity to utilize telehealth services. Globally, half the world’s population can’t access the full range of services needed to treat cancer because of differences in income and education levels, geographic location, and discrimination.

To mark the event each year, hundreds of activities and events take place around the world—in the streets and online—acting as a powerful reminder that we all have a role to play in reducing the global impact of cancer.

The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) is observing World Cancer Day and has long worked to conquer cancer globally through research, education, and promotion of the highest quality, equitable patient care. Recently, ASCO released its Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Action Plan, which aims to infuse equity into all of the organization’s activities, with the goal of making meaningful progress that improves the quality of cancer care. Read the full plan.

Read a commentary on World Cancer Day 2022 from ASCO President Everett E. Vokes, MD, FASCO. 

Bookmark ASCO in Action for updates as well as news, advocacy, and analysis on cancer policy.