Global push for person-centred cancer care

A global push for person-centred care is headlining this year’s World Cancer Day campaign, with advocates saying care fragmentation and a lack of coordination are impacting health systems worldwide.
 
Now in its 26th year, the 4 February campaign aims to promote research, raise awareness, and make progress in cancer prevention, screening, detection, diagnosis, treatment, and care.
 
In 2025–27, the theme is ‘United by Unique’, highlighting the idea that people’s uniqueness must be taken into consideration when shaping cancer care and health systems.
 
The campaign also promotes the critical need for person-centred care, focusing on ‘the whole person, not just their cancer’.
 
However, the organisation behind World Cancer Day, the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC), says several challenges remain when it comes to implementing this wraparound care.
 
From fragmented health systems, lack of care coordination, limited resources, cultural and systemic barriers, and insufficient focus on prevention and health promotion – the UICC says there is a long way to go.
 
RACGP President Dr Michael Wright agrees, saying the theme highlights the importance of ensuring everyone, regardless of postcode, background or income, has access to timely, high-quality cancer prevention and care.
 
‘We know that people who see the same GP over time have better cancer outcomes, but access to care is not equal,’ he said.
 
‘Rural communities, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and culturally and linguistically diverse communities still face unacceptable barriers.
 
‘Strengthening general practice is essential to addressing these inequities.’
 
It is estimated that almost one million Australians have been diagnosed with cancer in the last 10 years, according to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.
 
It comes at a time when cancer diagnoses are on the rise – in 2000, there were around 88,000 cases of cancer diagnosed in Australia, but by 2025, 170,000 cases were diagnosed.
 
Cancer is also becoming more commonly diagnosed in people in their 30s and 40s, with cancers strongly contributing to this rise being thyroid, breast, prostate, colorectal, and kidney cancer.
 
In response, the RACGP is reminding Australians of the importance of participating in national screening programs for breast, cervical and bowel cancer, keeping regular appointments with their GP, and reducing preventable risks, including smoking, alcohol, poor diet and inactivity.
 
Log in below to join the conversation.

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare cancer World Cancer Day