Half the world’s population lacks access to the full range of essential health services. When it
comes to cancer, many of us are denied basic care, despite the fact that we live in a time of awe-
inspiring advancements in cancer prevention, diagnosis and treatment.
This is the equity gap – and it’s costing lives. People who seek cancer care hit barriers at every
turn. Income, education, geographical location and discrimination based on ethnicity, race,
gender, sexual orientation, age, disability and lifestyle are just a few of the factors that can
negatively affect care. The most disadvantaged groups are also more likely to have increased
exposure to a host of other risk factors, like tobacco, unhealthy diet or environmental hazards.
The gap affects everyone. You might feel the equity gap doesn’t impact you personally, but it
likely affects someone you know. While it’s more pronounced in low- and middle-income
countries, well-resourced countries show dramatic disparities too. It’s almost guaranteed that the
gap affects you or people in your community.
We can close the gap. Today’s reality is that who you are and where you live could mean the
difference between life and death. It isn’t fair. But we can change this.
