World Cancer Day – February 4 – is a key date every year for all of us in the international cancer community. Under the leadership of the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC), a diverse and vibrant community of organizations comes together to advance a particular theme. For ASCO, it is also the anniversary of our Society’s bold commitment made in 2013 to addressing cancer disparities around the world.
ASCO is a proud member of the UICC and we are collaborators in many arenas. With the slogan, “Not Beyond Us”, this year’s World Cancer Day focuses on ways that we can improve cancer control along the following themes:
- Healthy Life Choices
- Early Detection
- Treatment for All
- Quality of Life
I cannot imagine a set of issues that better encapsulates the challenges and opportunities that we as a cancer community face. I encourage you to take a moment to reflect on these themes, read what your fellow ASCO members have to say about these topics.
When it comes to addressing global cancer challenges, your Society is not a passive bystander. I am immensely proud of the achievements made by ASCO International in its two years of existence, progress made by so many of you, our members, who serve as volunteers in our international programs.
ASCO’s International Affairs department has posted a report on ASCO International accomplishments over the past year, and I encourage you to visit the webpage and learn about the many ways our Society is moving the needle. And we are not resting on our laurels. With the convening of a special Board-appointed Task Force, ASCO is already mapping the next stages of its global engagement.
I will look forward to your thoughts and suggestions, and to sharing with you the results of these efforts on future World Cancer Days.
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