World Cancer Day 2024

February 4th 2024 is World Cancer Day – a global campaign to raise awareness, show support and unite to fight cancer. 

World Cancer Day is a day that unites people, communities and entire countries to raise awareness and take action.

One in two people will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime.

The number of people in the UK diagnosed with cancer will rise by a third by 2040, taking the number of new cases every year to more than half a million for the first time, figures show.

A new analysis by Cancer Research UK finds that, if current trends continue, cancer cases will rise from the 384,000 cases per year now to 506,000 in 2040.

• The four most common cancers occurring worldwide are lung, female breast, bowel and prostate cancer. These four account for more than four in ten of all cancers diagnosed worldwide.
• Worldwide there will be 27.5 million new cases of cancer each year by 2040.
• UK incidence is ranked higher than two-thirds of Europe.
• UK incidence is ranked higher than 90% of the world.

And while that number may feel high, advances in research, treatment and technology mean survival rates are better than ever.

Unite against cancer

The theme for World Cancer Day 2024 is  ‘Together, we challenge those in power.’  Every single person has the ability to make a difference, large or small, but together the health community can make real progress in reducing the global impact of cancer.

Thanks to fundraising efforts survival rates have doubled in the last 40 years. Within the next 20 years Cancer Research UK hopes to see 3 in 4 patients surviving cancer.

Through prevention and awareness, treatment, and community support we can help people and their families through every stage of cancer.

World Cancer Day is a chance to come together, raise money and show everyone living with cancer they are not fighting alone. Cancer Research UK is asking people to wear Unity Bands to show support – the proceeds of which go towards life saving research.

More cancer resources 

If you want to learn more about cancer or are concerned about a certain type of cancer, there are great resources on the web to help answer your questions. If you have questions about recognising symptoms and reducing risk,  NHS Choices and Cancer Research are both excellent places to go for general information.

For an in-depth guide to understanding cancer, Macmillan has a number of useful guides.

If you want information for coping with cancer, both as a patient and a carer, Macmillan and the National Cancer Institute both have helpful guides.

You can also read our guides on Silversurfers – We have a whole section about cancer, and we’ve written about supporting a loved one through cancer, websites for cancer information, as well as breast cancer awareness, prostate cancer awareness and more.

What are your experiences with cancer? Will you wear a Unity Band for World Cancer Day? Share your thoughts in the comments below.