JACKSONVILLE, Fla. ― Mayo Clinic Cancer Center joins the Union for International Cancer Control, and other organizations, governments and people from around the world, in honoring World Cancer Day, a day dedicated to closing the gap in cancer care.

“World Cancer Day is focused on raising awareness about reducing inequities in cancer care at home and around the world,” says Folakemi Odedina, Ph.D., a Mayo Clinic cancer researcher and global health equity expert. “Mayo Clinic stands with the UICC and other institutions in taking steps to raise awareness about these inequities and in taking steps to improve access to care that will reduce disparities in cancer outcomes.”

Access to resources and social determinants of health often constitute many of the barriers to equitable care in the U.S. and around the world, according to the UICC. Dr. Odedina says developing person-centered and inclusive public health policies that consider the specific needs of different populations based on ethnicity, gender, age, sexual orientation, disability, geographical location, education and income will be key to improving outcomes for all cancer patients.

“Technological innovations, such as digital health, may also play an important role in providing better access to cancer care if they are used more widely,” says Dr. Odedina. “At Mayo Clinic, we are working on ways to deliver health care remotely that may provide a model for improving access to cancer treatment in remote areas of the United States and around the world.”

Dr. Odedina says more widely accessible cancer treatment would not only save countless lives, but also would lead to improved health equity that could strengthen families and communities, and benefit economies through greater workforce participation. “Individuals, communities and organizations must come together to break down barriers. Closing the care gap in cancer care is good for everyone,” says Dr. Odedina.

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About Mayo Clinic Cancer Center
Designated as a comprehensive cancer center by the National Cancer Institute, Mayo Clinic Cancer Center is defining new boundaries in possibility, focusing on patient-centered care, developing novel treatments, training future generations of cancer experts, and bringing cancer research to communities. At Mayo Clinic Cancer Center, a culture of innovation and collaboration is driving research breakthroughs that are changing approaches to cancer prevention, screening and treatment, and improving the lives of cancer survivors.

About Mayo Clinic
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Media contact:

• Joe Dangor, Mayo Clinic Public Affairs, newsbureau@mayo.edu