There are more than 100 types of cancer. Cancers are usually named after the organs or tissues where they are located. Major cancers like breast, lung, prostate, colorectal, liver, cervical and ovarian cancer are more well-known because there are more diagnoses. We put together a list of important cancer awareness days that are recognized nationally and internationally each year. This list is comprehensive, but not exhaustive, so we apologize for any we’ve missed.

Almost everyone knows someone who has been affected personally by cancer. In 2021, the American Cancer Society estimated there would be 1.9 million new cancer diagnoses in the U.S. and 608,570 cancer deaths. The National Cancer Institute reported that in 2020, prostate, lung and colorectal cancers accounted for an estimated 43 percent of all cancers diagnosed in men in 2020; breast, lung and colorectal accounted for an estimated 50 percent of all new cancer diagnoses in women.

We have put together a list of cancer awareness months