World Cancer Day
World Cancer Day is an international campaign taking place on 4 February each year and supported by cancer charities worldwide. It’s designed to raise awareness of cancer and inspire individuals, communities and governments to take action against the disease.
Friday 4 February is World Cancer Day. Just like every day, another seven teenagers and young adults in the UK will be diagnosed with cancer.
It’s devastating news at the hardest time, as the coronavirus pandemic continues to make life uncertain for us all. They may face long stays in hospital, isolated from family and friends, facing fears about their future – the potential mental health impact is huge.
But our specialist nurses and youth support teams have worked tirelessly to give care and support to young people with cancer all through the pandemic, and that’s not going to change.
Whatever the crisis, we’re determined to make sure no young person faces cancer alone.
Raising awareness of common symptoms
Diagnosing cancer early saves lives and is just as important as ever, as the coronavirus pandemic continues to make things very challenging for the NHS.
Although cancer in young people is rare, it’s really important to get checked out if you have any symptoms you’re worried about – and to keep asking for help if something still feels wrong.
There are five common signs of cancer in young people aged 13-24 that everyone should be aware of:
- Lumps
- Unexplained tiredness
- Mole changes
- Pain
- Significant weight change