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NCCN's Commitment to Cancer Care on World Cancer Day

The National Comprehensive Cancer Network® (NCCN®), a collective of top cancer centers across the United States, has made a significant announcement in honor of World Cancer Day. This year's commitment includes an initiative to ensure that their educational resources, designed for cancer patients and caregivers, will receive annual updates. This decision comes as part of their ongoing mission to provide reliable, accessible, and actionable information to those impacted by cancer.

World Cancer Day is observed annually on February 4 to raise awareness and mobilize global efforts in cancer prevention, early detection, and treatment. Spearheaded by the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC), this year's theme, “United by Unique,” emphasizes personalized care by putting individuals' stories and experiences at the forefront.

Dr. Crystal S. Denlinger, NCCN’s Executive Director, expressed the excitement surrounding this initiative: “We are pleased to announce that all our comprehensive patient education books will now be updated annually and available in both English and Spanish. At NCCN, we acknowledge that each patient’s journey with cancer is unique, shaped by their individual circumstances, hopes, and needs. But we also recognize that we all share a common need for objective and trustworthy information to guide us towards the best possible outcomes.”

The NCCN Guidelines for Patients, which provide essential, evidence-based recommendations driven by expert consensus, have become a trusted resource for healthcare providers globally. These guidelines are presented in clear language and include visuals, glossaries, and suggested questions, enabling patients and their caregivers to collaborate effectively with their healthcare teams in making informed decisions.

The library of NCCN Guidelines for Patients® encompasses over 70 different guides, addressing crucial topics such as cancer prevention, detection, diagnosis, treatment, and supportive care across nearly all cancer types. Each guide delivers reviewed information that elucidates every step of the care process, from diagnosis to survivorship, in an easily digestible format.

All NCCN Guidelines for Patients® can be freely downloaded from the NCCN website at NCCN.org/patients or accessed through their app, thanks to the generous funding provided by the NCCN Foundation®.

These guidelines contain the same content as the NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines®) that oncologists rely on daily and are independently associated with improved outcomes, greater survival rates, and lower costs. By informing and empowering patients, these guidelines foster a culture where individuals are more proactive in advocating for their care.

In 2025, more than 2.1 million individuals utilized the patient guidelines, which were downloaded over 2.6 million times. Recognizing the evolving landscape of oncology care, the NCCN is accelerating its publication schedule to ensure that all resources are updated yearly, reflecting the latest advancements in the field. By World Cancer Day 2026, 81% of the guides will be available in both English and Spanish, with an additional 11 languages catering to varying topics.

Patrick Delaney, Executive Director of the NCCN Foundation, remarked, “If knowledge is power, we aim to empower everyone who needs it—whether they themselves are diagnosed, know someone who is, or are simply seeking information on prevention before symptoms arise.” Additionally, the NCCN Foundation is eager to collaborate with employers, community leaders, and religious organizations to provide support to individuals confronting cancer.

Accessing these invaluable resources is easy and free—visit NCCN.org/patients for more details on the available patient resources. For those wishing to support the NCCN’s initiatives to promote quality cancer care, visit NCCN.org/foundation for more information on contributions.

About NCCN

The National Comprehensive Cancer Network® (NCCN®) is a nonprofit alliance of leading cancer centers dedicated to patient care, research, and education. NCCN's mission is to define and promote high-quality, effective, equitable, and accessible cancer care so that everyone can live better lives. The NCCN Guidelines are recognized as the gold standard in clinical direction and policy for cancer management worldwide.

About NCCN Foundation

The NCCN Foundation empowers cancer patients and their caregivers by providing impartial, expert guidance through various educational resources, including the NCCN Guidelines for Patients®. The Foundation also supports groundbreaking research initiatives by funding young investigators at the forefront of cancer research. For further information, please visit NCCNFoundation.org.