Cancer Prevention Month & World Cancer Day Awareness Campaign
Created by the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), National Cancer Prevention Month (NCPM) is observed every February and promotes modifiable health behaviors to reduce the risk of cancer through factors like commercial tobacco use, physical inactivity, excessive sun exposure and vaccinations.1
World Cancer Day is observed worldwide on February 4. It is an initiative by the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) to build global cancer awareness, inspire change and mobilize action.2 Each World Cancer Day has a theme, such as health equity, barriers to care, advocacy and leadership engagement The 2024 theme is “Close the Care Gap”.3
Data and Statistics
Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide4 and is the second-leading cause of death in the United States.5 In 2020, there were about 1.6 million new cancer diagnoses in the U.S. and about 600,000 deaths.5 The global cancer burden is estimated to increase to almost 30 million annual cancer cases and 16 million cancer-related deaths by 2040.6
Cancer affects all communities, but the rates of cancer occurrence and deaths differ greatly based on socioeconomic status, race, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability and other factors.7 Social determinants of health can contribute to developing cancer and impact treatment outcomes.7 Examples of social determinants of health are:8
- Education and literacy
- Transportation access
- Healthy food access
- Healthcare access
- Housing stability and safety
- Cleanliness of air and water
Behavior changes do not address the socioeconomic and environmental factors that contribute to a person’s cancer risk. However, starting and keeping up with healthier behaviors can lower the risk of getting certain cancers.9
Best Practices for Communicating About Cancer Prevention
Communicating with Diverse Audiences
Consider the information most useful for specific populations. Tailor communication to where these communities live, learn, work and play. Refer to and adapt the National Networks’ existing resources.
The following recommendations are based on general cancer risks and trends for each audience. You can use our inventory of awareness campaigns for additional cancer-specific research and strategies. Messages within other awareness campaigns may be cross-posted during Cancer Prevention Month and World Cancer Day with the addition of relevant hashtags like #cancerpreventionmonth, #worldcancerday and #IAmAndIWill.
Sample Messages and Graphics
Download All Messages and Graphics How to Post on Social Media
Topics | Suggested Images |
---|---|
Topic: Engage providers in Cancer Prevention Month February is National #CancerPreventionMonth! Optimizing your health and wellbeing can go a long way toward reducing the risk of getting certain #cancer types. Share these key messages with providers and patients this month—and all year long! #cdc #dcpc #cctprevention | |
Topic: Engage providers in World Cancer Day February 4 is #WorldCancerDay, a day for raising awareness about the global #cancer burden and mobilizing action to create a future without cancer. Observing this occasion is easy. Share cancer information in accessible formats, like the infographic you see here! https://tinyurl.com/yckukd63 #cdc #dcpc #cctprevention | |
Topic: Encourage PSE changes to improve health outcomes for AI/AN people Want to make #PSE changes to improve the health of American Indian and Alaska Natives during #CancerPreventionMonth? You don’t have to do it alone. The American Indian Cancer Foundation partners with organizations and Native organizations to provide culturally appropriate PSE guidance. Learn more here: https://tinyurl.com/454hyr36 #cdc #dcpc #cctprevention #aianhealth | |
Topic: Promote awareness of the link between HCV and liver cancer Because #HepatitisC infects the liver, it can increase a person’s risk of developing #livercancer. There’s no cure for HCV, but these simple steps can protect individuals and their families from infection. #cdc #dcpc #cctprevention | |
Topic: Encourage providers to share at-home physical activity Sweeping, vacuuming and yard work may sound like chores, but they can easily become opportunities for physical activity. Health.gov’s free Move Your Way activity planner helps people create #exercise plans based on personal needs and physical settings. Share this resource to encourage healthy behaviors and reduce #obesity-related cancer risk. https://tinyurl.com/49xyfdp8 #cdc #dcpc #cctprevention | |
Topic: Share strategies related to social determinants of health Factors like #healthcare access, economic stability, neighborhood environment, education access and more can dramatically affect a person’s health. In turn, they can affect a person’s risk of getting cancer. Consider strategies like these to help patients overcome common social barriers to health. #cdc #dcpc #cctprevention | |
Topic: Share commercial tobacco cessation resources for LGBTQI+ people #DidYouKnow that #LGBTQI people are more likely to smoke commercial #tobacco than heterosexual people due to decades of targeted marketing from big tobacco? The National LGBT Cancer Network offers an Outlast Tobacco quitline to provide culturally competent, compassionate guidance to form a quit plan. Share this resource during #CancerPreventionMonth! https://tinyurl.com/mr5zv86y #cdc #dcpc #cctprevention #ccttobacco | |
Topic: Share tips for caring for LGBTQI+ patients If #LGBTQI people are concerned about unsafe medical environments, they are more likely to avoid healthcare—which means fewer cancer screenings and later detection. Follow these simple steps from the National LGBT Cancer Network to create a welcoming environment for people of various sexual and gender identities. #cdc #dcpc #cctprevention #lgbthealth | |
Topic: Share resources for discussing prostate cancer Questions about #prostatecancer? Talk to Nathan! This interactive service from the CDC can help patients decide when to get screened and prepare for conversations with your doctor. Nathan can also prepare providers for conversations with patients. https://tinyurl.com/cr6u6d4p #cdc #dcpc #cctprevention #lgbthealth | |
Topic: Promote behaviors and practices to reduce risk of prostate cancer Healthy behaviors and diets can decrease the risk of getting #prostatecancer. Share these tips with patients looking for ways to reduce their prostate cancer risk. #cdc #dcpc #cctprevention | |
Topic: Use narratives to communicate important health information Narrative #storytelling is a powerful tool for sharing health information. Narratives are engaging, relatable and easier to understand than informational writing. For example, you can share stories and videos from the CDC Tips campaign to help people understand the impacts of commercial #tobacco use on diverse populations. https://tinyurl.com/57dp7ux6 #cdc #dcpc #cctprevention | |
Topic: Share examples of effective community partnerships and PSE changes By leveraging #partnerships and engaging the community, the Kentucky Cancer Consortium increased statewide #colorectalcancer screenings and decreased incidence and mortality. Learn more about this transformative initiative and start building your own partnerships today! https://tinyurl.com/5dctb2vz #cdc #dcpc #cctprevention #psechange | |
Topic: Promote HPV vaccinations as a form of cancer prevention During National #CancerPreventionMonth, we’re reminding everyone that getting the #HPV vaccine is in every person’s best interest. Share these fast facts to help patients understand how the HPV vaccine can protect them from several types of #cancer. #cdc #dcpc #cctprevention #ccthpv | |
Topic: Share multi-lingual cancer information Language barriers can result in worse health outcomes. To make sure everyone has access to clear information during #CancerPreventionMonth, share these #multilingual cancer resources from the American Cancer Society. https://tinyurl.com/ywn749zx #cdc #dcpc #cctprevention | |
Topic: Share information about sun safety Practicing #sunsafety is an easy way to prevent #skincancer. Share these tips from the CDC to encourage UV protection during work and play. You can even share this information in video form at https://tinyurl.com/3ccr6mym #cdc #dcpc #cctprevention | |
Topic: Communicate the link between Adverse Childhood Experiences and cancer Adverse childhood experiences (known as ACEs) may be linked to getting cancer later in life. Communities can help prevent ACEs and reduce the harm they cause. Learn more at http://tinyurl.com/543udhzc #cdc #dcpc #cctprevention | |
Topic: Raise awareness about testing for radon Lung cancer deaths from radon exposure are preventable if more people take action to reduce radon levels in homes, buildings, and schools. Raising awareness about radon saves lives. Spread the word for #RadonAwarenessWeek https://bit.ly/3Viw5mr #cdc #dcpc #cctprevention |
Download All Messages and Graphics How to Post on Social Media
How to Post on Social Media
Start by downloading the ZIP file above. Then double click the downloaded file to unzip and open the folder. Inside, you’ll find three CSV files.
- Messaging.csv contains captions for all messages in the toolkit, organized by topic.
- Bulk – Instagram.csv contains captions for all Instagram messages, along with graphics URLs that can be used to bulk schedule both text and images.
- Bulk – LinkedIn-Facebook.csv contains captions for all LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter messages, along with graphics URLs that can be used to bulk schedule both text and images.
- Bulk – Twitter.csv contains captions for all Twitter messages, along with graphics URLs that can be used to bulk schedule both text and images.
Inside the main folder, you’ll also see two sub-folders containing the messaging graphics for all major platforms. The first folder contains rectangular images suited for use on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. The second folder contains square images suited for Instagram.
Select your platform below for additional instructions.
Cancer Resources
Resource | Description |
---|---|
Adolescents and Young Adults with Cancer (NCI) | Providing information about types of cancers, treatment choices, coping and support resources, survivorship care planning, end-of-life care decisions and more. |
African American Breast Cancer Alliance | A network creating culturally specific and outreach to promote breast health awareness, patient support and advocacy for African American breast cancer patients, survivors and their families. |
American Indian Cancer Foundation | A collaborative organization that brings attention to Indigenous cancer burdens and solutions, advances capacity through training, technical assistance and culturally-tailored resources, and increases availability of reliable Native-focused cancer data and solutions. |
AMIGAS | A CDC bilingual educational outreach intervention designed to help community health workers increase cervical cancer screening among Hispanic and Latino/a/x people. |
APPEAL | A national health justice organization working to advance equity in tobacco control and health for Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, Pacific Islanders and other underserved communities. |
Arab-American Family Support Center | A non-profit organization providing culturally and linguistically competent, trauma-informed, multigenerational social services to help Arab, Middle Eastern, North African, Muslim, and South Asian (AMENAMSA) immigrant and refugee communities find healthy paths to success and fulfillment. |
Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum | A health advocacy organization influencing policy, mobilizing communities, and strengthening programs and organizations to improve the health of Asian Americans & Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders. |
Asian American Cancer Support Network | A community network providing educational and supportive resources for Asian Americans affected by cancer. |
Asian Health Coalition | A coalition of community-based organizations working to eliminate health disparities among AANHPI and other communities of color by supporting the development and implementation of culturally and linguistically appropriate health programs and initiatives. |
Black Women’s Health Imperative | A program delivering evidence-based strategies, programs and advocacy to solve health issues that affect Black women and girls in the U.S. |
Center for Black Health & Equity | A nationally recognized public health entity facilitating programs and services that promote health equity for Black and African American people, including tobacco cessation education and initiatives. |
CDC Health Literacy Communication Tactics | Recommendations from the CDC on ways to improve health literacy practices in patient messaging. |
CDC Plain Language Materials & Resources | Resources and examples to help healthcare professionals implement plain language practices in patient communications. |
Comprehensive Cancer Control Plan Tip Sheets | Tip Sheets from ACS that are designed to help CCC program staff, coalition staff, and volunteers update CCC plans. |
FORCE | A group improving the lives of individuals and families facing hereditary cancer through education, advocacy, and research. |
Foundation for Women’s Cancer | Providing education and increasing awareness about gynecologic cancer risk, prevention, early detection and treatment. |
Gay and Lesbian Medical Association | A group dedicated to ensuring health equity for LGBTQ+ people through research, advocacy, and education. GLMA also shares resources for both patients and providers caring for LGBTQ+ people. |
GW Cancer Center Health Awareness Campaigns | A collection of research- and evidence-based toolkits to help cancer control professionals communicate about cancer and cancer-related diseases. |
GW Cancer Center Cancer Survivorship E-Learning Series | A series of free online courses designed to help primary care providers care for survivors of adult-onset cancers. |
Indian Country ECHO | An organization offering a variety of no-cost services to expand American Indian and Alaska Native peoples’ access to high-quality specialized care. |
Indian Health Service | A government agency providing federal health services to American Indians and Alaska Natives. |
Latinas Contra Cancer | An organization working to eliminate health inequities by identifying and removing the obstacles Latino/a/x populations that are medically underserved face within healthcare systems. |
Livestrong Fertility | Helping cancer survivors navigate fertility preservation with information, resources and reduced-cost preservation options. |
National Behavioral Health Network | A network that empowers and prepares a wide range of stakeholders to prevent and reduce tobacco use and cancer among adults with mental illnesses and substance use disorders. |
National Cancer Institute | Providing resources for both patients and providers to help them understand prostate cancer, treatments, screenings, and statistics. |
National Children’s Cancer Society | Providing information during and after treatment, financial support, scholarship resources, survivor stories and more. |
National Comprehensive Cancer Network | The latest guidelines for the clinical management of various cancers. |
National LGBT Cancer Network | Improving the lives of LGBTQI+ cancer survivors through advocacy, education and training. |
Nuestras Voces | An initiative of the CDC’s Networking2Save consortium of national networks implementing population-specific and public health-oriented strategies to impact the prevalence of commercial tobacco use and tobacco related cancers. |
Nueva Vida | A nonprofit organization providing free, comprehensive, and culturally competent services to inform, support, and empower Latino/a/x families in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area whose lives are affected by cancer. |
PlainLanguage.gov | Government guidelines for using plain language with discussions of each subtopic. |
SAGE for LGBTQI+ Elders | A national advocacy and services organization working to ensure a fulfilling future for the aging LGBTQI+ population. |
Talk to Nathan | A CDC resource that provides interactive conversations for both patients and providers to help make decisions about prostate cancer screening and/or treatment. |
Together, Equitable, Accessible, Meaningful (TEAM) Training | A training offered by the GW Cancer Center that aims to provide health care professionals with knowledge and strategies to support patient-provider communication and employ culturally competent practices. |
Welcoming Spaces:Treating Your LGBTQ+ Patient | A LGBTQ+ Cultural Humility training for healthcare professionals developed by the National LGBT Cancer Network in collaboration with the Society of Gynecologic Oncology. |
ZERO Prostate Cancer | Advancing prostate cancer awareness and working to end health disparities affecting Black patients. ZERO also connects patients and mentors to financial resources, support groups, and educational resources, with some specific to Black patients and LGBTQ+ patients. |
References
- February is National Cancer Prevention Month. American Association for Cancer Research (AACR). Accessed August 16, 2023. https://www.aacr.org/patients-caregivers/awareness-months/national-cancer-prevention-month/
- World Cancer Day: a leading international awareness day. Accessed August 16, 2023. https://www.worldcancerday.org/about-us
- World Cancer Day Campaign Theme. Accessed August 16, 2023. https://www.worldcancerday.org/about/2022-2024-world-cancer-day-campaign
- World Health Organization. Cancer. World Health Organization. Published February 3, 2022. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/cancer
- U.S. Cancer Statistics Working Group. U.S. Cancer Statistics Data Visualizations Tool, based on 2022 submission data (1999-2020): U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and National Cancer Institute; https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/dataviz, released in June 2023.
- National Cancer Institute. Cancer Statistics. National Cancer Institute. Published September 25, 2020. https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/understanding/statistics
- Equity: What It Means in Cancer Prevention and Control | CDC. www.cdc.gov. Published January 12, 2022. https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/health-equity/equity.htm
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Social determinants of health. Healthy People 2030. Published 2020. https://health.gov/healthypeople/priority-areas/social-determinants-health
- CDC. Healthy Choices to Lower Your Cancer Risk. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Published August 21, 2019. https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/dcpc/prevention/other.htm
- plainlanguage.gov | Why use plain language? www.plainlanguage.gov. https://www.plainlanguage.gov/about/benefits/
- Witteman HO, Zikmund-Fisher BJ, Waters EA, Gavaruzzi T, Fagerlin A. Risk Estimates From an Online Risk Calculator Are More Believable and Recalled Better When Expressed as Integers. Journal of Medical Internet Research. 2011;13(3):e54. doi:https://doi.org/10.2196/jmir.1656
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- Al Shamsi H, Almutairi AG, Al Mashrafi S, Al Kalbani T. Implications of Language Barriers for Healthcare: A Systematic Review. Oman Med J. 2020;35(2):e122. Published 2020 Apr 30. doi:10.5001/omj.2020.40
- Mar RA, Li J, Nguyen ATP, Ta CP. Memory and comprehension of narrative versus expository texts: A meta-analysis. Psychon Bull Rev. 2021;28(3):732-749. doi:10.3758/s13423-020-01853-1
- Moran MB, Frank LB, Chatterjee JS, Murphy ST, Baezconde-Garbanati L. A pilot test of the acceptability and efficacy of narrative and non-narrative health education materials in a low health literacy population. J Commun Healthc. 2016;9(1):40-48. doi:10.1080/17538068.2015.1126995
- Flynn PM, Betancourt H, Emerson ND, Nunez EI, Nance CM. Health professional cultural competence reduces the psychological and behavioral impact of negative healthcare encounters. Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology. 2019;26(3). doi:https://doi.org/10.1037/cdp0000295
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- Stubbe DE. Practicing Cultural Competence and Cultural Humility in the Care of Diverse Patients. Focus (Am Psychiatr Publ). 2020;18(1):49-51. doi:10.1176/appi.focus.20190041
- Huang Y, Shen F. Effects of Cultural Tailoring on Persuasion in Cancer Communication: A Meta-Analysis. Journal of Communication. 2016;66(4):694-715. doi:https://doi.org/10.1111/jcom.12243
- CDC. CDC’s Health Equity Guiding Principles for Inclusive Communication. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Published August 24, 2021. https://www.cdc.gov/healthcommunication/Health_Equity_Lens.html
- CDC. Culture & Health Literacy. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Published 2019. https://www.cdc.gov/healthliteracy/culture.html
- Advancing Partnerships between Health Care and Community-Based Organizations to Address Social Determinants of Health: Executive Summary. Center for Health Care Strategies; 2018. Accessed August 3, 2023. https://www.chcs.org/media/KP-CBO-Exec-Summ__080918.pdf
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- Colorectal Cancer Rates Higher in African Americans, Rising in Younger People. www.cancer.org. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/latest-news/colorectal-cancer-rates-higher-in-african-americans-rising-in-younger-people…
- CDC. Unfair and Unjust Practices Harm LGBTQ+ People and Drive Health Disparities | CDC. www.cdc.gov. Published June 27, 2022. https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/health-equity/lgbtq/unfair-and-unjust.html
- Ayhan CHB, Bilgin H, Uluman OT, Sukut O, Yilmaz S, Buzlu S. A Systematic Review of the Discrimination Against Sexual and Gender Minority in Health Care Settings. International Journal of Health Services. 2020;50(1):44-61. doi:10.1177/0020731419885093
- National LGBT Cancer Network Barriers to Health Care. cancer-network.org. https://cancer-network.org/cancer-information/cancer-and-the-lgbt-community/barriers-to-health-care/
- U.S. Cancer Statistics Working Group. U.S. Cancer Statistics Data Visualizations Tool, based on 2022 submission data (1999-2020): U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and National Cancer Institute; https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/dataviz, released in June 2023.
- Hall IJ, Rim SH, Dasari S. Preventive care use among Hispanic adults with limited comfort speaking English: An analysis of the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey data. Prev Med. 2022;159:107042. doi:10.1016/j.ypmed.2022.107042
- Medina HN, Callahan KE, Morris CR, Thompson CA, Siweya A, Pinheiro PS. Cancer Mortality Disparities among Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander Populations in California. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2021;30(7):1387-1396. doi:10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-20-1528
- Bock S, Henley SJ, O’Neil ME, Singh SD, Thompson TD, Wu M. Cancer Distribution Among Asian, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Subgroups — United States, 2015–2019. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2023;72:421–425. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm7216a2
- Hepatitis C. Indian Health Service. https://www.ihs.gov/dccs/hcv/
- Preventing Liver Cancer in Native Communities by Promoting Vaccination and Screening Among Opioid Users | CDC. www.cdc.gov. Published November 17, 2022. Accessed September 18, 2023. https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/liver/opioid-users/native-communities.htm
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- Witte, Catherine; Begay, Tamana D.; and Coe, Kathryn (2010) “Spiritual Care within Oncology Care: Development of a Spiritual Care Program at an Indian Health Service Hospital,” Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice: Vol. 4: Iss. 3, Article 7.
- CDC. CDC’s Health Equity Guiding Principles for Inclusive Communication. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Published August 24, 2021. https://www.cdc.gov/healthcommunication/Comm_Dev.html