Today is World Cancer Day

which was established by the Paris Charter adopted at the World Summit Against Cancer for the New Millenium in Paris on 4 February 2000.

This Charter

aimed at “the promotion of the research for curing as well as preventing the disease, upgrading the provided services to the patients, the sensitisation of the common opinion and the mobilisation of the global community against cancer.”

The Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) organises World Cancer Day

which is currently a three year project taking place under the tagline ‘We can. I can.’.

World Cancer Day 2016-2018 will explore how everyone – as a collective or as individuals – can do their part to reduce the global burden of cancer.

Just as cancer affects everyone in different ways, all people have the power to take various actions to reduce the impact that cancer has on individuals, families and communities.

World Cancer Day is a chance to reflect on what you can do, make a pledge and take action. Whatever you choose to do ‘We can. I can.’ make a difference to the fight against cancer.

I have to admit that I was unaware of World Cancer Day until this year.

And it would probably have passed me by again in 2018 if I hadn’t received my own cancer diagnosis about six months ago.

It looks like #WorldCancerDay is a big Twitter event and there’s a live tweet map on the WCD website.

Many of the cancer charities participate in World Cancer Day including my favourite, Macmillan  Cancer Support.

My #LittleActsOfKindness are from nurses I meet when I go to my local Chemotherapy Unit every two weeks for my treatment.

From the moment of arrival until the end of the treatment all the nurses go far, far further than the extra mile to make the experience as tolerable and positive as it can possibly be.

Thank you NHS nurses, doctors, technicians and support staff for all you do: not only on World Cancer Day but EVERY DAY!

Thanks for reading my blog today.