Fuerteventura Joins World Cancer Day Commemoration
The Spanish Association Against Cancer Calls for More Humane and Comprehensive Care for Patients and Families
The Cabildo of Fuerteventura held an institutional ceremony today to mark World Cancer Day, featuring the reading of a manifesto by the Spanish Association Against Cancer (AECC).
The event was attended by Cabildo President Lola García, Puerto del Rosario Mayor David de Vera, Social Action Councilor Víctor Alonso, AECC Fuerteventura President Isabel Laucirica, Island Health Director Tomás Pérez, Public Health Councilor of Puerto del Rosario Rosa Rodríguez, Social Services Councilor of Antigua América Soto, as well as other representatives from the island’s municipal corporation and the Insular Hospital of Fuerteventura.
President Lola García and Councilor Víctor Alonso emphasized the importance of continuing to invest in research and prevention, and thanked the association for its extensive work on the island, which includes awareness campaigns, care, and accompaniment for patients and families. In 2025, the AECC assisted 2,055 people in the province of Las Palmas through free services such as psychology, social work, nutrition, physical exercise, and physiotherapy.
During the manifesto reading, Isabel Laucirica stressed that:
“Cancer often involves prolonged processes and an impact that goes beyond the strictly biomedical, affecting personal, family, social, and work life. Uncertainty, emotional strain, and the need for multiple supports are part of these journeys.”
Because of this, patients and families are demanding a more humane and comprehensive oncology care model, as highlighted in the AECC’s manifesto. The association argues that cancer requires a response that transcends clinical treatment and integrates psychological, social, familial, and emotional dimensions.
To address this, the AECC is launching a support program for health and social‑health institutions that involves patients and families. The program aims to promote a humanised model built around four strategic dimensions:
- Integral care for the person
- Autonomy and participation of patients
- New care spaces
- Well‑being and training for health professionals
Cancer is considered the most significant socio‑health issue both nationally and globally. In Spain, 2.2 million people live with some form of cancer, and nearly 300,000 new cases are diagnosed each year—a figure rising due to population ageing and unhealthy lifestyle habits. Moreover, cancer has become the leading cause of death in the country. In the Canary Islands, 11,620 new cancer diagnoses were recorded in 2023.