Today is World Cancer Day.

It is an international day observed on the 4^th of February to raise awareness about cancer, encourage its prevention, and mobilise action to address the global cancer epidemic.

The day is led by the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) and was established in 2000.

The World Cancer Day theme 2025-2027, ‘United by Unique’ places people at the centre of care and explores new ways of making a difference.   

Cancer is more than just a medical diagnosis – it is a deeply personal matter.
Behind every diagnosis lies a unique human story – stories of grief, pain, healing, resilience, love and more.

That’s why a people-centred approach to cancer care that fully integrates each individual’s unique needs, with compassion and empathy, leads to the best health outcomes.

Pictured above a Michael, Patricia, Gillian and Ian and below is a small snapshot of their experience with cancer. To read more see: https://breakthroughcancerresearch.ie/stories/

In 2011 Michael was diagnosed with a rare condition called Pseudomyxoma Peritonei (Appendix Cancer) in 2011. Michael said ‘my treatment included a 13-hour complex surgery involving the removal of eight organs, as well as stripping my peritoneum, liver and kidneys. This was followed by the administration of chemotherapy into the abdomen, heated to 42°, for ninety minutes. This resulted in five days in ICU, seventeen days without food, twenty three days in hospital and lots of physiotherapy afterwards. Thankfully life has returned to normal’.

‘After what happened, I met other survivors. With a few of them, I got a tour of Breakthrough Cancer Research labs, and we were blown away by the work they were doing.’

Michael continues to be a regular supporter of Breakthrough Cancer Research.

 

Patricia was diagnosed with Bowel cancer in 2006. Patricia describes receiving her diagnosis ‘I felt like a cage had come over my body and I was just locked in that cage.’ She says ‘I met a lot of people while I was going through my treatment and unfortunately not all of them were as lucky as I am here today, able to tell my story – they didn’t make it. That’s why funding research programmes is so, so important. Without research we have no hope’.

Patricia has raised funds for cancer research for over 35years and organises the annual Breakthrough Cancer Research Ball.

To date, Patricia has raised over 1 million euro for cancer research.

 

Gillian learned she had lung cancer in November 2021, just after her 40th birthday, .

She says ‘before my lung cancer diagnosis, I was young, fit, and healthy, working full-time while raising two teenagers. I went to the gym several times a week, ran or walked daily, and was also a non-smoker – something I always have to clarify, as people assume lung cancer is a smoker’s disease.

Surgery was my only option. Recovery was slow and difficult, but I survived’.

Gillian now advocates, fundraises for cancer research, and reminds us – ‘trust your body, seek answers, and remember that anyone can get lung cancer – all you need is a pair a lungs’.

 

Ian was first diagnosed with malignant melanoma at the young age of 33. After multiple recurrences and surgeries Ian was facing a very bleak prognosis.
He joined a Breakthrough Cancer Research and pharma-funded clinical trial that combined Electrochemotherapy (ECT) and immunotherapy and today he is now cancer free.

Commenting Ian said ‘I was part of an experimental research trial supported by Breakthrough Cancer Research, which is certainly one of the reasons I am here today. I’m delighted to see further investment announced in research to find new treatments for the cancers that cause the most deaths, the ones that need most support!  The more research that is done, the better the treatments will be and there will be more survivors like me.’

 

Every experience with cancer is unique and it will take all of us, united, to create a world where we look beyond the disease and see the person before the patient.
A world where the needs of people and communities are at the centre of health systems.

Donate today and help us make a difference.

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