Partnership marks World Cancer Day

Today, in events taking place around the world, cancer patients, survivors, caregivers, advocates, clinicians and others are celebrating World Cancer Day alongside the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer (the Partnership) and the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) by shining a light on the unprecedented efforts of healthcare professionals and cancer organizations to sustain care and introduce innovations in the wake of a pandemic that has changed the face of health care.

Since the onset of the pandemic in Canada, the Partnership has supported partners across the country to innovate cancer care, with a focus on improving access to world class cancer screening services for underserviced populations. The Partnership’s Innovating Against Cancer focus was announced in November 2020 along with $24.5 million to support innovation in Canadian cancer services.

This funding announcement includes an initial investment of $5.0 million to support planning and implementation of organized lung cancer screening for people at high risk. The evidence is clear that screening people based on their risk of getting lung cancer can save lives because this type of cancer, when caught early, has better treatment outcomes. Unfortunately, lung cancer does not affect all of us equally. The fact that people with lower incomes and who live in rural or remote areas experience inequities came through loud and clear in the Partnership’s recent report, Lung Cancer and Equity.

Read about the urgent need to address these systemic inequities and to collaborate with First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities to develop Peoples-specific approaches to increase the accessibility of lung cancer screening programs in today’s Globe and Mail.

About World Cancer Day 2021

World Cancer Day takes place every year on February 4 and is a key international awareness day that unites the world in the fight against cancer. Coordinated by UICC, World Cancer Day 2021 is taking place under the tagline “I Am and I Will” and celebrates the power of individual action to reduce the global burden of cancer. World Cancer Day is a chance to reflect on what you can do, pledge your support, and take action against cancer.

This year, UICC is placing a special focus on the global commitment to eliminate cervical cancer. In Canada, the Partnership and partners across the country are using the Action Plan for the Elimination of Cervical Cancer in Canada 2020-2030 to drive forward priorities that will achieve the elimination of cervical cancer in Canada by 2040. UICC asked world leaders to answer children’s questions about cervical cancer elimination. Watch Cynthia Morton, CEO of the Partnership respond to “Why are people unfairly affected by cervical cancer?” and “Why does cervical cancer elimination matter to you?”.

World Cancer Day will be recognized across Canada with the following landmarks lit in orange and blue on February 4, 2021:

• Canada Place Sails of Light, Vancouver, British Columbia
• Vancouver Convention Centre, Vancouver, British Columbia
• Calgary Tower, Calgary, Alberta
• High Level Bridge, Edmonton, Alberta
• RCMP Heritage Centre, Regina, Saskatchewan
• The Forks Winnipeg Sign, Winnipeg, Manitoba
• CN Tower, Toronto, Ontario
• Toronto Sign, Toronto, Ontario
• Niagara Falls, Niagara Falls, Ontario
• Government House, St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador
• Halifax City Hall, Halifax, Nova Scotia

To learn more about World Cancer Day, visit www.worldcancerday.org.