4 countries making strides in cancer prevention and early detection
Cancer remains one of the most formidable health challenges worldwide, but the fight against it is gaining momentum thanks to innovative strategies and proactive measures being implemented around the world. From groundbreaking screening and vaccination programs to widespread public health campaigns, many countries are making remarkable strides in cancer prevention and early detection.
Today, February 4, is World Cancer Day, designed to raise awareness about cancer, encourage prevention methods and mobilize action to address the global cancer problem. Here are four inspiring and effective initiatives from around the world, showcasing how different nations are leading the charge in reducing cancer incidence and improving survival rates:
1. Australia
Australia has long been a leader in skin cancer prevention thanks to its comprehensive public health campaigns. The “Slip-Slop-Slap” campaign, which encourages people to slip on a shirt, slop on sunscreen and slap on a hat, has significantly raised awareness about the dangers of UV exposure. Earlier this year, Australia adopted new sun safety guidelines that balance the benefits of vitamin D* with the risk of getting too much sun exposure.
The country is also making waves in lung cancer prevention by cutting nicotine usage. Australia introduced some of the world’s toughest anti-vaping laws in July 2024, now requiring people who want to vape to provide a doctor’s prescription to purchase. They’ve also limited flavor choices to just three—mint, menthol and tobacco. By ending practices such as colorful branding and flavors that appeal to young people, Australia is supporting a future free of harmful risk factors for ung thư phổi.
2. United Kingdom
The United Kingdom is also supporting lung cancer prevention through its ban of single-use disposable vapes. This ban will go into effect across England, Wales and Scotland beginning in June 2025. New laws are being developed separately in Northern Ireland that plan to ban the sale and supply of single-use vapes and are also expected to go into effect in June. While vaping is less harmful than smoking traditional cigarettes (about 80%-90% of all lung cancers are related to cigarette smoking), vapes do contain nicotine. Nicotine is addictive and is what makes people dependent on the product and can lead to withdrawal symptoms when they don’t use it. The vapor from an e-cigarette also contains harmful chemicals that have health risks.
3. Rwanda
In 2018, the World Health Organization (WHO) set an ambitious goal to eliminate cervical cancer as a public health problem within the next century. Rwanda is one of the countries leading this charge by bolstering vaccination among young girls against the virus u nhú ở người (HPV). HPV can cause at least six types of cancer, including more than 90% of cervical and anal cancers.
Rwanda was also the first African country to implement the HPV vaccine in 2011.
Rwanda’s Ministry of Health has played a large role in this success by working with village elders, community leaders, churches and schools to educate about the HPV vaccine and stop misinformation to get more people vaccinated.
4. Finland
With a cervical cancer screening program covered by the public health care system (reducing out-of-pocket payments for people who have a cervix), Finland has successfully reduced ung thư cổ tử cung incidence rates and mortality by almost 80%. According to the World Health Organization, high screening rates in Finland are also attributed to a high level of trust in public health care services provided by the country.
Cervical cancer is highly preventable thanks to screening and vaccination—the more people who know and understand these facts, the more cervical cancers we can prevent or detect early, when treatment is more likely to be successful.
We can all learn from one another when it comes to cancer prevention and early detection. Our vision of a world where cancer is preventable, detectable and beatable for all is not possible without the work being done globally to prevent cancer or detect it early.
For more information about cancer prevention and early detection—within the U.S. and around the world—visit ngăn ngừa ung thư.org.
*Some experts say it is better to get your vitamin D from food or supplements rather than from sunlight. Talk with your health care provider about vitamin D and your health.