World Cancer Research Day Date in the current year: September 24, 2024

Cancer is expected to become the leading cause of death worldwide, with an estimated 21.6 million new cases annually by 2030. The years of life lost, diminished productivity, and disability caused by cancer take a toll on global economy, surpassing even infectious diseases in this respect. Urgent action is needed to prevent unnecessary deaths, alleviate suffering, and reduce the significant economic and social burden of cancer.

To effectively combat cancer, it is vital to prioritize research into its causes, prevention, and early detection, laying the groundwork for controlling the disease. Increased investment in these areas will support ongoing efforts to either find a cure or transform cancer into a manageable chronic condition, both of which can lead to higher survival rates.

Current cancer research has already enabled the prevention of up to 50% of cancers, helped to achieve a 50% survival rate for those diagnosed, and led to the development of less aggressive treatments, improving patients’ quality of life. However, it still faces major challenges, including the need for more effective prevention and detection strategies, advancements in diagnostics, cost-effective treatments, enhanced international collaboration, sustainable funding models, expanded research training opportunities, and the infrastructure necessary for swiftly implementing research results into national healthcare systems. These efforts are essential to better controlling and ultimately reducing the impact of cancer globally.

World Cancer Research Day is coordinated and promoted by a group of cancer research organizations, including the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), Spanish Association Against Cancer (AECC), AIRC Foundation for Cancer Research (Italy), European Association for Cancer Research (EACR), Union for International Cancer Control (UICC), American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), Cancer Research UK, European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO), National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health (US), and WHO’s International Agency for Research on Cancer.

Every year, the WCRD campaign focuses on a new theme. For example, in 2024 the main focus was the importance of innovation under the motto “Innovation In Cancer Research Drives Progress Toward Health Equity”. Innovation is crucial at every stage of cancer research, from prevention, screening and early detection to diagnosis and treatment. Whether through policy changes or technological advancements, all aspects of innovation help translate research into real-world benefits for patients, improving survival rates, enhancing quality of life, and promoting health equity on a global scale.

World Cancer Research Day events include conferences, seminars, talks, fundraisers, and more. You can get involved with the campaign by attending a WCRD event or organizing an event of your own, learning more about the importance of cancer research and sharing the information you’ve learned with others, donating to an organization that promotes cancer research, and spreading the word on social media with the hashtag #WorldCancerResearchDay.