Every year on February 4th, World Cancer Day unites people across the globe in raising awareness about cancer’s devastating impact and the urgent need for prevention, early detection, and equitable access to life-saving treatments. The day supports collective action towards preventing cancer deaths and access to life-saving oncology treatment and care for all. With cancer the second-leading cause of death worldwide, the American Cancer Society (ACS) continues to work to be a key driver of advances in therapeutic strategies, screening, and research to increase survival and reduce the global cancer burden.
This year’s World Cancer Day theme is “United by Unique,” meaning every experience with cancer is unique, and it will take all of us united to create a world where we look beyond the disease and see the person before the patient.
“Cancer knows no borders, and neither does our fight against it,” said Dr. William Dahut, chief scientific officer at the American Cancer Society. “Through groundbreaking research, global collaborations, and a commitment to equity in cancer care, ACS is working to change the trajectory of this disease and build a future where fewer lives are lost to cancer worldwide.”
ACS Global Cancer Research Highlights:
Global Cancer Burden Continues to Rise (Global Cancer Statistics, 2024)
- In 2022 alone, 20 million new cancer cases were diagnosed, and 9.7 million people worldwide died from the disease.
- By 2050, global cancer cases are projected to reach 35 million—a stark reminder of the growing urgency for stronger prevention and treatment strategies.
- Lung cancer remains the world’s most commonly diagnosed and deadliest cancer, followed by colorectal and liver cancer. Researchers look to prevention as offering the most cost-effective and sustainable strategy for cancer control.
Alarming Surge in Early-Onset Colorectal Cancer (The Lancet Oncology, December 2024)
- Colorectal cancer rates are rising in young adults in 27 out of 50 studied countries, with a particularly concerning increase in individuals under 50.
- In 14 countries, including the U.S., rates are increasing in young adults while stabilizing in those 50 years old and older.
- ACS researchers call it a “global phenomenon” and stress increasing awareness and prevention to help reverse this trend in colorectal cancer rates.
- Prostate cancer incidence is rising in 11 of 50 studied countries, particularly in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Eastern Europe.
- Mortality rates are also increasing in nine countries, highlighting a growing health disparity between high- and low-income nations.
- ACS investigators stress the need to improve early detection and treatment services to help reduce the burden of the disease in these countries.
As cancer cases continue to rise worldwide, World Cancer Day serves as a critical call to action for governments, healthcare leaders, and communities to invest in cancer prevention, research, and equitable access to care. From funding cutting-edge discoveries to advocating for policies that protect public health, the global fight against cancer requires urgent and unified action.
Additional ACS Resources:
Prostate cancer
Colorectal cancer
Cancer statistics
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About the American Cancer Society The American Cancer Society is a leading cancer-fighting organization with a vision to end cancer as we know it, for everyone. For more than 110 years, we have been improving the lives of people with cancer and their families as the only organization combating cancer through advocacy, research, and patient support. We are committed to ensuring everyone has an opportunity to prevent, detect, treat, and survive cancer. To learn more, visit cancer.org or call our 24/7 helpline at 1-800-227-2345. Connect with us on Facebook, X, and Instagram.
