World Cancer Day on Sunday 4 February 2024

This year’s World Cancer Day takes place on Sunday 4 February and the theme is ‘Close The Care Gap’. While we live in a time of awe-inspiring advancements in cancer prevention, diagnosis and treatment, many of us who seek cancer care hit barriers at every turn.

Income, education, geographical location, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability and lifestyle are just a few of the factors that can lead to inequity of care.

Reducing health inequalities is a key priority for the North East London Cancer Alliance and we are working with our partners to address this. We are aiming to promote health equity, enhance accessibility to cancer services, and reduce disparities in cancer care across north east London.

As part of this work and to show our support for World Cancer Day, we are taking part in some cancer awareness days.

At these events, we want to help increase the uptake of cancer screening, raise awareness of cancer signs and symptoms and reduce health inequalities.

Come and visit our stand to have a chat with our team, find out key life-saving cancer information and pick up a range of cancer materials to share with family, friends and colleagues.

The details of the events are:

10am – 2pm, Tuesday 6 February, Grocer’s Wing, Tower Hamlets Town Hall, 160 Whitechapel Rd, London E1 1BJ

10am to 3pm, Wednesday 7 February, reception area at Homerton Healthcare Hospital, Homerton Row, London E9 6SR

10am to 3pm, Thursday 8 February, reception area at Royal London Hospital, Whitechapel Rd, London E1 1FR

Femi Odewale, Managing Director of North East London Cancer Alliance, says “This year's theme of Close The Care Gap is one which is very close to our hearts in north east London and our aim to reduce health inequalities is reflected across all our programmes of work.

“Everyone has a part to play in helping to close the care gap when it comes to cancer. We encourage everyone to take advantage of the free cancer screening progammes that are available, as these do save lives. Speak to family, friends and colleagues and make sure they take time out to get checked when they need to.

“Early diagnosis is key, as the sooner that anything is found, the easier it is to treat.”

For more information

To find out more about World Cancer Day and to join a world-wide call to action, visit: https://www.worldcancerday.org/join-call-to-action

Watch our life-saving cancer screening videos:

• Bowel screening: https://youtu.be/ieHkvyh5kT8
   
• Breast screening: https://youtu.be/6SAhNkuAF_4
   
• Cervical screening: https://youtu.be/AjB_6641D-Q

Find out how to help lower your risk of cancer: https://www.nelcanceralliance.nhs.uk/top-tips-lower-your-risk-cancer

Get involved as a volunteer and have your say about the future of local cancer services: https://www.nelcanceralliance.nhs.uk/pcvc