4 February 2023 .Brussels , Belgium
EVENTS, Raising Awareness

Together let’s close the gap in cancer care – World Cancer Day!

This World Cancer Day, the World Bladder Cancer Patient Coalition is proud to join the international cancer community efforts. Jointly, we advocate for greater access to care for marginalised populations and closing the gap in cancer care worldwide.

World Cancer Day takes place every year on February 4 and is the uniting global initiative under which the world comes together to raise the profile of cancer in a positive and inspiring way.  Spearheaded by the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC), the day aims to save millions of lives each year by raising awareness and improving education about the disease while calling for action from governments and individuals across the world.

World Cancer Day 2023 is led by the theme “Close the care gap”, recognising inequities in health that exist for many populations. This is the second of a three-year campaign on equity, to raise awareness about the lack of equity in cancer care and prompting action at every level to break down the barriers that exist for many people in accessing services and receiving the care they need.

World Cancer Day is an opportunity to raise awareness about bladder cancer too. Over 500,000 people are diagnosed with bladder cancer around the world each year. Yet, bladder cancer awareness remains low when we look at patient experiences. Around half the patients hear about bladder cancer for the very first time at diagnosis. There is a real need to continue the conversation and raise awareness. Informed and empowered patients can demand better care, alongside strong bladder cancer patient groups there to provide support and information.

Join us on World Cancer Day to bring attention to bladder cancer and raise awareness about inequities around the world and be part of the initiative to close the cancer care gap. Explore the ready-made resources we have developed for you.

«Strong, empowered patient groups are essential to close the care gap in bladder cancer care. That’s why we focus our efforts on supporting patient advocates in starting a group in their communities.

Alex Filicevas, Executive Director of the World Bladder Cancer Patient Coalition

The WBCPC developed a Start-up guide for bladder cancer patient groups, to support and inspire these young groups. The guide is a step to ensure that national and local bladder cancer patient support groups and organisations are strong enough to support people affected by bladder cancer.

For more information, please visit: www.worldcancerday.org

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