Hero is “Closing the Gap” on World Cancer Day 2023
By: June Lim
World Cancer Day is observed annually on February 4th. It is a day to raise awareness about cancer and to encourage its prevention, detection, and treatment. “Close the Gap” is the theme of World Cancer Day 2023, which is observed annually on February 4th. The theme aims to bridge the disparity in cancer care, ensuring that all individuals diagnosed with cancer have access to proper treatment and care. Cancer is a leading cause of death globally, and 70% of deaths from cancer occur in low- and middle-income families.
One major gap in cancer care is the disparity in finding bone marrow matches for people of color. People of European descent have a 79% chance of finding a donor, while African Americans only have a 25% chance, Asian Americans have 40% chance, and Latino patients have a 55% chance. To address this disparity, There Goes My Hero has started the “Color the Registry” initiative, which aims to diversify the bone marrow registry and increase the chances of finding a match for people of color diagnosed with blood cancers such as leukemia and lymphoma.
It is important to act on World Cancer Day to help close the care gap. By making healthy lifestyle choices, supporting cancer research, and spreading awareness about the signs and symptoms of cancer, we can all play a role in the fight against cancer. Those diagnosed with cancer can seek support from loved ones, healthcare professionals, and organizations specializing in cancer care and support.
If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with cancer, there are several resources available for support, including:
– American Cancer Society (cancer.org)
– Cancer Research UK (cancerresearchuk.org)
– National Cancer Institute (cancer.gov)
– World Cancer Research Fund International (wcrf.org).
It is also important to remember that cancer affects people from all walks of life, regardless of age, gender, or background. We must work together to ensure that everyone has access to the information, diagnosis, and treatment they need to fight this disease. We can all act on World Cancer Day to make a difference in the fight against cancer. We can make healthy lifestyle choices, such as eating a balanced diet and exercising regularly. We can support cancer research and help to fund treatments and cures. And we can spread the word about the signs and symptoms of cancer, so that people can get the help they need as soon as possible.
You can help blood cancer patients in need with There Goes My Hero. We have several initiatives to help blood cancer patients and we host bone marrow drives to help blood cancer patients find their life-saving match.
Facts:
-Each year there are over 170,000 new cases of blood cancer diagnosed in the United States. Each year, almost 58,000 people will die from some form of blood cancer.
-By becoming a Hero volunteer or hosting a Color the Registry Bone Marrow Drive, you can help bridge the gap in bone marrow matches for people of color and make a difference in the lives of blood cancer patients.