On 14 October 2026, Europe will mark the first-ever Cancer Literacy Day, a new annual initiative dedicated to reducing cancer inequalities by improving health literacy, empowering informed decision-making and ensuring more equitable access to reliable cancer information.
SHINE 2Europe is proud to support this important initiative through its participation in the CURTAIN and CAREWAY projects, two European collaborations that place cancer literacy, patient empowerment and equitable access to information at the heart of their work.
Coordinated by the CURTAIN Project – Beating Cancer Inequalities through Literacy in Europe and supported by an expanding network of projects funded under EU4Health and the EU Cancer Mission, Cancer Literacy Day aims to become a permanent European movement that raises awareness of the critical role of health literacy across the entire cancer continuum, from prevention and early detection to treatment, survivorship and palliative care.
Health literacy is increasingly recognised as a key determinant of health outcomes. Individuals who can access, understand, evaluate and use trustworthy health information are better equipped to participate in shared decision-making, navigate healthcare systems and engage with prevention and care services. Strengthening cancer literacy is therefore an essential step towards reducing inequalities and ensuring that no one is left behind.
Within the CAREWAY project, SHINE 2Europe contributes to the development of innovative educational resources and capacity-building activities designed to improve cancer literacy among underserved populations and the professionals who support them. Through CURTAIN, SHINE also works alongside European partners to promote evidence-based approaches that strengthen cancer literacy policies and practices, helping to address disparities in access to information and care across Europe.
Cancer Literacy Day represents an important opportunity to bring together researchers, healthcare professionals, patient organisations, policymakers and citizens around a shared commitment to making cancer information more accessible, understandable and actionable for everyone.
Save the date and join this growing European movement on 14 October 2026.
More information is available on the CURTAIN Project website: https://curtainproject.eu/