Today, February 4, people all around the globe speak up, stand up, and take action on World Cancer Day. Hosted by the Union for International Cancer Control, this annual initiative aims to raise worldwide awareness, improve education and catalyze personal, collective, and government action. World Cancer Day calls each of us to take action in our own areas to advance the world to where millions of preventable cancer deaths are saved and access to life-saving cancer treatment and care is equal for all.

This year, World Cancer Day kicks off the ‘Close the Care Gap’ campaign to understand and recognize the inequities in cancer care around the globe. 

How is the UCSF Global Cancer Program addressing disparities and closing the care gap?

From training the first cohort of pediatric oncologists in Vietnam to establishing a cancer research training program in Tanzania, we are working with our international partners to strengthen the workforce and build up leaders in cancer care and research. We are conducting research to better understand why cancer is found in certain populations, such as exploring the high incidence of esophageal cancer in eastern Africa as well as early onset colorectal cancer in Latinx populations. We are evaluating novel approaches to expand access to care, including diagnostics for breast cancer and point-of-care HPV screening for cervical and anal cancers.

Read our latest newsletter for more information.