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International Union Against Cancer Introducing UICC
The International Union Against Cancer (UICC) is the leading international non-governmental organization
dedicated to the global prevention and control of cancer.
Founded in 1933, UICC unites over 300 member organizations, specialized and engaged in cancer control,
in more than 100 countries across the world.
UICC is non-profit, non-political and non-sectarian. Its headquarters are in Geneva, Switzerland.
What we do
UICC’s mission is to conne ct , mobi l i ze a nd s uppor t organizations, leading experts, key
stakeholders and volunteers in a dynamic community working together to eliminate cancer as a lifethreatening disease for future generations.
UICC works closely with its member organizations and partners to implement a comprehensive strategy that
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promoting the World Cancer Declaration
organizing the World Cancer Congress
raising awareness through the World Cancer Campaign
coordinating World Cancer Day annually, on 4 February
reviewing and disseminating the TNM (tumour-node-metastasis) classification of malignant tumours
developing effective cancer control programmes especially in low- and middle-income countries
changing cancer-related beliefs and behaviour through information and education
creating special initiatives in prevention, early detection, access to treatment and supportive care
awarding international cancer fellowships
producing cutting-edge scientific publications, such as the International Journal of Cancer
T a ck l i ng t he ca nce r bur de n i s a g l oba l cha l l e ng e - In today’s world, people are likely to be
touched by cancer – either directly, as a person living with the disease, or through a family member or friend.
More than 11 million new cases are diagnosed each year, and about 8 million people die from cancer – over
70% of them in low- and middle-income countries. Based on current trends, 15.5 million people will be
diagnosed with cancer in 2030, and about 12 million people will die from the disease.
The good news
- We have more knowledge than ever before on how to bring cancer under control.
About one-third (30-40%) of all cancers can be prevented, a further third can be cured (given early
diagnosis and treatment), and effective palliative care can be provided to patients.
Our challenge is to put this knowledge into practice in all parts of the world
A global priority
The World Health Assembly resolution on cancer prevention and control (2005) calls on countries everywhere to intensify
action against cancer by developing and reinforcing cancer control programmes.
Well-conceived, resource-appropriate national
strategies lower cancer incidence and improve the life of cancer patients, no matter what constraints a country
faces.
About UICC
In 1933, cancer researchers recognized the need to share knowledge and expertise globally and so founded
the International Union Against Cancer (UICC). Since then, UICC has grown to embrace organizations
engaged in all aspects of cancer prevention and control: voluntary cancer societies, research and treatment
centres, public health authorities, patient support networks and advocacy groups, and ministries of health.
UICC is governed by its member organizations, which meet in a general assembly, held in conjunction with
the World Cancer Congress, every two years. Between assemblies, a board of 17 directors, elected by the
general assembly, acts as the executive body of the UICC.
UICC works closely with the World Health Organization (WHO), the International Agency for Research on
Cancer (IARC), and the Programme of Action for Cancer Therapy (PACT) and has consultative
status with the UN Economic and Social Council. It offers corporate partners a unique
opportunity to demonstrate social responsibility on a global scale. Every two years, the UICC brings together
key stakeholders in a World Cancer Summit.
*UICC is an acronym of the Latin name: Unio internationalis contre cancrum*
The World Cancer Congress, held every two years, brings together the world’s leaders in the
fight to control cancer. Leading clinicians, practitioners, government agencies and NGOs, patient-care
providers and advocates, researchers and behavioural scientists and public health experts focus on
transforming the latest knowledge into strategies that countries, communities, institutions and
individuals can implement to reduce the cancer burden.
The Global Cancer Control Community is an online platform for communication between
professionals, volunteers and staff working in cancer control. It provides a forum for global networking and
information exchange while also offering a wide variety of resources and tools.
GLOBALink, the UICC tobacco control network, is an online recognized platform for communication for
over 6,000 tobacco control professionals, allowing them to find and exchange the latest, most accurate
information and analysis, access specific publications, guidelines and reports, and engage in collective action.
Now in its second decade, GLOBALink has received the Luther L Terry Award and the Tobacco or Health
medal from WHO.
The World Cancer Declaration
is a tool to help bring the growing cancer crisis to the attention of
government leaders and health policymakers in order to significantly reduce the global cancer burden by
2020. It represents a consensus between government officials, public health experts and cancer advocates
from around the world who are committed to eliminating cancer as a major threat for future generations.
The Declaration outlines 11 targets to be achieved by 2020 including: significant drops in global tobacco
consumption, obesity and alcohol intake; universal vaccination programmes for hepatitis B and human
papilloma virus (HPV) to prevent liver and cervical cancer; dramatic reductions in the emigration of health
workers with specialist cancer training; universal availability of effective pain medication; and dispelling myths
and misconceptions about cancer.
As the custodian of the Declaration, the UICC encourages priority actions to achieve the Declaration’s targets
locally and nationally and promotes a comprehensive response across the globe.
“The World Cancer Declaration outlines the critical steps needed to build the basis for sustainable delivery of effective cancer
prevention, early detection, treatment and palliative care worldwide. These and other steps to advance global health are not just
matters of moral concern: they are issues of fundamental human rights. We all have a role to play in moving the cancer control
agenda forward.”
Mary Robinson
President of Realizing Rights: the Ethical Globalization Initiative
World Cancer Summit 2008
The World Cancer Campaign,
“Today’s children, tomorrow’s world”, is focused on children and
cancer prevention. The campaign helps UICC members and partners to run education and mobilization
projects and measure their effectiveness and aims to improve awareness in the fight against cancer, which in
many countries still takes a back seat to other public health issues.
“Today’s children, tomorrow’s world” targets parents, health professionals and decision-makers with four
key messages:
• give children and young people a smoke-free environment;
• encourage an energy-balanced lifestyle based on healthy diet and physical activity;
• learn about protection against cancer-causing infections; and
• teach children and teenagers to avoid UV exposure by being “sun smart”.
The World Cancer Campaign is a response to the Charter of Paris (4 February 2000), which calls for “an
invincible alliance – between researchers, health-care professionals, patients, governments, industry and
media – to fight cancer and its greatest allies, which are fear, ignorance and complacency”.
World Cancer Day
is coordinated by the UICC on 4 February each year, with support from members
and partners such as, the World Health Organization (WHO), the International Atomic Energy Agency
(IACA), and other international bodies. It is also on the occasion of each World Cancer Day that UICC
launches its annual campaign theme.
The cancer capacity-building fund,
launched in 2007, supports member organizations in low and
middle income countries in reaching out to their communities. In its first two years, it awarded 30 grants to
members in 19 countries.
The cervical cancer initiative,
led by Nobel laureate Professor Harald zur Hausen, advocates for
affordable vaccination, screening and treatment for all women, especially in low- and middle-income
contries. It seeks to raise awareness through public information, education and campaigns, and provides
training opportunities for health professionals and decision-makers. UICC is an active member of the Cervical
Cancer Action coalition. Demonstration projects in Tanzania and Nicaragua aim to improve cervical cancer
control and bulid local capacity.
Childhood cancer:
At least 160,000 children aged 14 or under are diagnosed with cancer each year.
The good news is that childhood cancer can largely be cured if detected sufficiently early. Yet children with
cancer in developing countries have less than a 50% survival rate, as opposed to 80% for children living in
high-income countries.
To combat childhood cancer, the “My child matters” initiative was launched by the UICC in 2006 in
partnership with sanofi-aventis. To date, it has awarded grants to 34 pilot projects in 21 countries, covering
public awareness, early detection, treatment and supportive care, professional education, and palliative care.
The UICC, with the support of partners such as the Schellenberg and Symphasis foundations, also conducts
longer-range paediatric oncology projects.
International cancer fellowships:
through this fellowships programme, UICC helps in the
professional development of cancer investigators, clinicians and nurses, and cancer society staff and
volunteers, so that they can deliver appropriate diagnosis, treatment and care wherever they live. Over
6,000 fellowships have been awarded to date.
Patient support:
UICC promotes
• cancer patient groups, peer support, and psychosocial care;
• cancer patient forums, offering a voice to patients, their families and caregivers;
• Hope Lodges, providing low-cost accommodation to cancer patients in treatment and their families; and
• cancer information services and helplines, in partnership with the International Cancer Information Services
Group.
Publications:
in 1953, UICC adopted the TNM classification of malignant tumours created by Dr Pierre
Denoix. Today, TNM is the global standard for cancer staging. Through the TNM classification project led by
Dr Leslie Sobin and Dr Mary Gospodarowicz, UICC reviews and regularly updates the TNM Classification of
Malignant Tumours, the TNM Atlas, the TNM Supplement, and Prognostic Factors in Cancer.
UICC also publishes the Manual of Clinical Oncology, a concise and accessible reference on cancer
detection, diagnosis and treatment.
The International Journal of Cancer, UICC’s official journal, is a leading publication in experimental and
clinical cancer research. It is distinctive for publishing epidemiological studies from all over the world, to a
magnitude not found elsewhere in the oncology-related literature.
All these publications are available through Wiley-Blackwell.
UICC also publishes expert reports within the framework of the World Cancer Campaign.
Useful links
World Cancer Declaration: www.worldcancerdeclaration.org
World Cancer Congress: www.worldcancercongress.org
Global Cancer Control Community: www.uicc-community.org
GLOBALink: www.globalink.org
World Cancer Campaign: www.worldcancercampaign.org
International Union Against Cancer (UICC)
62 route de Frontenex
1207 Geneva, Switzerland
Tel +41 22 809 1811 | Fax +41 22 809 1810
E [email protected] | W www.uicc.org
All cancer and tobacco statistics: World Health Organization, 2009