We Can. I Can. Make a Difference for Cancer Patients: World Cancer Day 2016

World Cancer Day, recognized annually on February 4, is an initiative of the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC), focused on uniting the world in the fight against cancer. Having in mind Bristol-Myers Squibb’s commitment to make a difference in the lives of patients living with cancer, we can’t think of a better opportunity for the global community to come together and to raise awareness about this devastating disease: its prevalence; what the public should know about risk factors; and the importance of education and support. 

For the next three years, the theme of World Cancer Day is “We Can. I Can.” – a particularly meaningful focus for Bristol-Myers Squibb, because we understand that the fight against cancer “takes a village” and that community-driven global public health is critical. 

We know the “we” is paramount when dealing with cancer. Care teams of medical professionals, family members and loved ones, researchers, policymakers and community organizations all come together to support the patient through diagnosis, treatment, and beyond to help families cope with cancer. But the “I” plays a critical role, too. That’s why programs such as Ready. Raise. Rise. in the United States, and The Next Lung Cancer A.C.T. in the European Union, focus on empowering people to be champions of their own health care by having more informed discussions with their doctors and understanding the important advancements being made in research. 

At Bristol-Myers Squibb, we are proud to sponsor World Cancer Day to raise awareness and inspire the global community to take action and be part of the effort to end cancer.