World Cancer Day 2025 Theme, History, Significance | How World Cancer Day Observed?

February 4 commemorates World Cancer Day, which is a global event on healthcare being observed every year since 2000. It is an important day as it supports in raising awareness about detecting and preventing cancer and its treatment. The day was initiated by the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) and it seeks to significantly limit the increasing number of deaths caused due to cancer.  Let us take a close look at what is world cancer day and related details.

What is World Cancer Day? How is it Observed?

World Cancer Awareness Day is observed every year on February 4 to support people fighting this fatal disease and to inform others about the detection and prevention of cancer. The day is observed by people from different local and international organizations globally. All these groups come together unitedly to raise awareness and inform people about cancer and the importance of having advanced screening and diagnostic kits to help in the early detection and for improved treatment of the disease.

Further, the general awareness regarding screening and treatment of cancer is low among some sections of the society, especially the middle and the low-income groups who are mostly not educated enough. Hence, it is important to make such people aware to bridge the gap between the informed and the ignorant class of people about causes and prevention of cancer. On World Cancer Day due importance was given on the topic of how to prevent cancer, how to detect it early and start treatment.

World Cancer Day History

The World Summit Against Cancer for the New Millennium was organized on 4th February 2000 in Paris. This marked the initiation of the World Cancer Day, and is regarded as a key component of the Paris Charter. The charter also seeks other aspects such as advanced research on cancer, its awareness and prevention, proper care of patients and global mobilization among others.

World Cancer Day 2025 Theme

The theme of World Cancer Day 2025 is “Close the Care Gap”. The theme this year is in continuation with the 2022 theme and will continue till 2025. Thus, the theme this year is a part of a 3-year campaign with particular objectives for each year.

Significance of World Cancer Day (4th February)

On World Cancer Day, people are educated about the warning signs as well as symptoms of cancer. The importance of early detection is also emphasized on and people are informed why they should have regular screening to diagnose the disease.

Since knowledge about the disease is a good way to help everyone, hence efforts were made to talk and reach out to as many people as possible on World Cancer Day.  Various events are held on this day to enhance knowledge on this topic. People are informed through various means like World Cancer Day Poster, speech on World Cancer Day, World Cancer Day logo and World Cancer Day quotes etc.

Some Facts About the Disease – Cancer

• The death toll caused due to cancer is staggering and it costs the lives of millions of people every year
• One-third of cancers can be prevented if taken proper care and in case it is diagnosed early
• Cancer is known to be the second most common cause of death globally
• Low-income nations are worst affected with 70% fatality rate
• Further, the total monetary expense due to cancer globally is over $1.16 trillion

Since cancer is such a deadly disease, it is important to stay prepared against it. The most critical part of cancer treatment is the cost related to it. Hence, the first and the foremost thing that you can do is to buy good coverage of health insurance against cancer. Below are some policies offering coverage against cancer.

Top 5 Health insurance Plans 2025 with Cancer Coverage

Below are some cancer specific insurance policies to consider:

Plan Name	Entry Age (Min. Max.)	Sum Insured	Waiting Period	Survival Period Option	Features
Oriental Cancer Protect	3 months – 65 years	INR 5 lakh – 50 lakh	75 days	Not applicable	Offer coverage against advanced and conventional treatment
Care Cancer Mediclaim Policy	5 to 50 years	INR 10 lakh – 2 Crore	90 Days	Not applicable	The plan allows radiotherapy and chemotherapy treatments
ManipalCigna Lifestyle Protection – Critical Care	18 to 65 years	Up to 3 Crore	90 Days	One month	Cancer diagnosis of different severity is covered under the plan
Edelweiss Health Insurance Policy	3 months onwards	5 lakhs to 1 Crore	90 Days	Not applicable	Allow coverage for cancer diagnosis
Kotak Mahindra Secure Shield Policy	18 to 65 years	5 to 10 lakhs	90 Days	Not applicable	Allow coverage for cancer diagnosis