On Thursday, U.S. Representative Terry Sewell (AL-07) introduced a resolution to designate February 4 as “World Cancer Day.” This year's theme, “Closing the Care Gap,” emphasizes the importance of raising awareness and taking action to eliminate the racial, ethnic, and geographic inequalities and disparities that exist in cancer care in the United States and around the world. It is attracting attention.
“Whether you've been diagnosed with cancer yourself or are watching a loved one undergo treatment, we know that every family on the planet is affected by cancer in some way. I know,” said Congressman Sewell. “We also know that cancer does not impact all communities equally, as cancer diagnosis and mortality rates continue to be higher in minority and underserved communities. By marking February 4th as World Cancer Day, we hope to draw attention to these disparities and encourage efforts to eliminate them. By working together, we can help move towards a world without cancer. We can pave the way.”
It is estimated that one in five people worldwide will develop cancer during their lifetime. In the United States, in 2023 there will be more than 1.9 million new cancer cases and more than 600,000 cancer-related deaths. In 2024, the number of new cancer cases is predicted to exceed 2 million for the first time.
Unfortunately, disparities in cancer treatment continue to exist, with racial and ethnic minority populations experiencing disproportionately higher rates of cancer morbidity and mortality than whites. Prevention and early detection efforts have helped reduce inequities in cancer treatment and improve outcomes for patients, including African Americans, Latinos, Asian Americans, Native Americans, and others. Significant efforts need to be made to further address disparities in screening, diagnosis, and treatment for this group. Alaska Native.
The World Cancer Day resolution was co-sponsored by Rep. Robin Kelly (IL-02), Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), and Rep. Raul Grijalva (AZ-07). It is also supported by the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN), the National Minority Quality Forum (NMQF), the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN), and the Alliance for Cancer Care Equity (ACCE). I am.
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