Adaptations and innovations in cancer care through
COVID-19 and beyond
Shining a light on the heroic responses to the pandemic by cancer organisations and individuals around the world struggling to maintain progress in cancer care.
Marking World Cancer Day on 4th February, the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) gives voice and says thank you to the nurses, doctors, researchers, volunteers, advocates and other caregivers in oncology from around the world, as well as government agencies, who have worked these past 12 months through the COVID-19 pandemic.
This page provides access to testimonials and stories relating the experiences of UICC's members and partners in pursing cancer care during COVID-19.
The World Cancer Day theme “I Am and I Will” encapsulates the extraordinary spirit and the strength of the people working in the cancer community.
Press & Media
Access the press release and factsheet as well as an image bank for World Cancer Day.
Find other languages here.
Stories on challenges, adaptations and innovations to cancer care
"It appears quite certain that disruptions to cancer services in the past year will lead to diagnosis at later stages which in turn will translate into higher cancer-related mortality. However, it is heartening to see the incredible response of the cancer community to mitigate these consequences both in India and elsewhere."
Prof. Anil D’Cruz
President of UICC and Director at Oncology Apollo Hospitals in India
Regional responses
How did UICC's members and partners react to the current challenges facing a global pandemic? Read their stories in the selected blogs and news.
- COVID-19 and cancer control in Peru: the response of a private oncology centre:
Dr Carlos Santiago Vallejos Sologuren Director, Oncosalud / AUNA, former Minister of Health, Peru, talks about how the Peruvian population is at high risk for contracting COVID-19 and its complications.
- Providing safe environments for cancer patients during the coronavirus pandemic:
Felipe Roitberg, Clinical Oncologist at the Instituto do Câncer do Estado de São Paulo, Brazil talks about how the demand vs healthcare capacity imbalance has negative impacts on the economy, financial resources, medical supplies, workforce and resource allocation, posing a risk to societies’ sustainability.
- Coronavirus in LMICs: Effective advocacy in the face of adversity:
UICC Member organisations play an important role in national advocacy to address the additional challenges posed by the coronavirus for cancer treatment, support, funding and control in their countries.
- Confronting Cancer and COVID-19 in Venezuela:
César Miranda, UICC member and Manager of Education and Prevention at Sociedad Anticancerosa de Venezuela, speaks about the current challenges facing a global pandemic in the context of political instability and a weak health system.
- Coronavirus and Cancer Care: Planning, informing, assisting and giving hope:
UICC has reached out to its global membership to ask how the situation has impacted them, as well as caregivers and patients, in their activities, delivery of services and receipt of treatment.
- Coronavirus in LMICs: Effective advocacy in the face of adversity:
UICC Member organisations play an important role in national advocacy to address the additional challenges posed by the coronavirus for cancer treatment, support, funding and control in their countries.
- Holding up the end of the line: our role as cancer civil society organisations:
Dr Murallitharan Munisamy, Medical Director National Cancer Society of Malaysia (NCSM) talks about the role to play as civil society organisations (CSOs) working in the cancer space during the pendamic.
- Cancer care during COVID-19 in Malaysia: focusing on prevention and primary care
In an interview with UICC, Dr Adeeba Kamarulzaman, speaks of how the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Malaya managed the outbreak of COVID-19.
- Cancer and coronavirus in Africa: the challenges facing volunteer organisations :
Cancer patients and organisations in Africa face increased challenges due to coronavirus in terms of access to affordable medicines, lack of knowledge, fundraising and community outreach for diagnoses and vaccinations.
- How breast cancer patients in Sierra Leone are affected by COVID-19:
Cremelda Parkinson Pratt, Founder and CEO, Thinking Pink Breast Cancer Foundation talks about Sierra Leone's lack of proper infrastructure for cancer care and the challenges her foundation faced during the pandemic.
- Global Aid to Lebanon and Fundación Aladina provide essential funds to CCCL:
Donations to the Global Aid to Lebanon have covered essential medications for 60 patients as well as bone marrow transplants for 15 children thanks to the generosity of Fundación Aladina.
- Working hard to ensure cancer is not the forgotten ‘C’:
Lynda Thomas talks about how Macmillan Cancer Support had to adapt to the ever-evolving situation and ensure the continuation of their crucial support during this challenging time.
- Coronavirus and Cancer Care: Planning, informing, assisting and giving hope:
UICC has reached out to its global membership to ask how the situation has impacted them, as well as caregivers and patients, in their activities, delivery of services and receipt of treatment.
- Facing a pandemic head on: How CCS took bold action to continue supporting the most vulnerable:
Andrea Seale, Chief Executive Officer of CCS talks about how the impact of COVID-19 in Canada has been felt in peaks and valleys throughout the year.
- The first children's hospital to be built in Romania in the midst of a pandemic
Carmen Uscatu and Oana Gheorghiu Co-Founders, Give Life Association talks about the challenges of building the First National Children’s Hospital for Cancer, Severe Illnesses and Trauma exclusively from donations.
"The pandemic has shown how adaptable the system for service delivery has been and how rapidly guidelines have been developed to address gaps in knowledge and information. We can do the same for cancer."
Jodie Moffat
Head of Early Diagnosis, Cancer Research UK
"Problems with late diagnoses and difficulties for patients in paying for treatment are systemic and are now exacerbated in the current crisis."
Mansour Niang
Secretary-General of the Ligue sénégalaise contre le cancer (Senegalese League Against Cancer)
The private sector mobilises for cancer care