The Department of Health of Dénia has launched a humanization campaign to mark World Cancer Day, which is celebrated today, Tuesday, February 4. The aim is to empathize with all those patients and their families who are going through the same situation and to address cancer, not only from a clinical perspective, but also from an emotional one.
The initiative, which has the motto #WeToo and involves healthcare professionals who have undergone an oncological process, focuses on empathizing with the personal experiences, some common, that people go through after receiving a diagnosis of cancer.
The campaign is inspired by the global initiative promoted by the International Union for Cancer Control, which organises awareness-raising actions in three-year cycles to delve deeper into a specific topic and achieve a greater impact. The aim is to raise awareness about the disease and encourage prevention.
In the three-year period 2025-2027 the motto is "United by Unique» and places people at the centre of attention, since cancer, «in addition to a clinical diagnosis and treatment, is also a deeply personal matter. Behind each diagnosis there is a unique human story». For this reason, the initiative focuses on collecting and sharing personal experiences around the world so that society reflects not only on the patient, but on the person and places them at the centre of the health system.
Based on this idea, the Dénia Health Department is dedicating the entire month of February to collecting and disseminating a series of videos in which patients and professionals share their experiences to raise awareness among citizens about the importance of empathy, support and care, both medical and emotional, in the fight against cancer.
Among the leading voices of this campaign is that of Mari Carmen Sanchís, a Nursing Assistant, who faced her diagnosis with an attitude that she herself defines as “radical positivity.” “I focused on living day to day, appreciating what I had and trusting that the treatment would give results.”
Another outstanding story is that of Daniel Rodríguez, Head Warden at Dénia Hospital, who experienced a radical change in his life after facing cancer, as the experience awakened in him a vocation for service and provided him with a lot of information about care. “It is important to take care of others, but it is no less important to take care of yourself,” Daniel stresses.
Testimonies like those of Mari Carmen and Daniel are especially valuable, as they provide a double perspective: that of someone fighting cancer and that of someone working to support others throughout their oncological process.
The manager of the Dénia Health Department, Juan Puig, has pointed out that this campaign seeks to put the focus on the human dimension of cancer, since we are aware that behind every diagnosis there is a person with dreams, fears and hopes. "With #WeAlso we want to pay tribute to those who face this disease, and also to those who accompany them on the journey: family, friends and health professionals."
The campaign videos will be available on the website and social media of the Dénia Health Department, which also invites patients, family members and healthcare professionals to join the initiative.
Those who wish to share their story can do so through the department's official channels or by sending an email to communication_denia@gva.es The goal is to build a supportive community where every voice counts and every story inspires.
