Under the motto “United by Unique”, World Cancer Day on 4 February 2026 will focus on the individual realities of life of people with cancer. For young adults between the ages of 18 and 39, the burden of surviving cancer often does not end with medical healing. Many encounter persistent discrimination when taking out insurance, granting loans, civil servants or adoption procedures. The German Foundation for Young Adults with Cancer (DSfjEmK) and the German Society for Hematology and Medical Oncology (DGHO) are calling for a legal right to be forgotten in order to end this structural discrimination.

A cancer diagnosis at a young age affects those affected at a crucial stage of life: education, career entry, financial independence and family planning. Even years or decades after healing, the history of the disease continues to have an effect as a social stigma. With private health insurance, there is a risk of extremely high premiums or rejections, professional aspirations remain unfulfilled, and bureaucratic hurdles lead to renewed psychological stress.

Together with those affected, the foundation is campaigning for a binding right to be forgotten: After a probationary period of five years without recurrence, the previous cancer should no longer be declared or used against those affected – for example, in the case of insurance, loans or civil servant relationships. In nine EU countries, including France, Belgium and the Netherlands, this right is already enshrined in law. In Germany, there are no corresponding regulations so far. A first step would be the rapid implementation of the European Consumer Credit Directive, which should have taken place by November 2025.

Human-centered cancer care must not end with therapy. The foundation develops all projects, information services and health policy initiatives together with young people affected. The aim is comprehensive participation that goes beyond medical treatment and ensures fair opportunities in everyday life.

The “United by Unique” campaign makes it clear that cancer care is only effective and fair if the experiences of those affected are consistently included – in medicine, psychosocial matters and politics. Since its establishment in 2014 by the DGHO, the foundation has worked closely with over 1,000 young affected people and finances its work exclusively from donations.

Donation account:
Bank for Social Economy
IBAN: DE37 3702 0500 0001 8090 01
BIC: BFSWDE33XXX

Editor: X-Press Journalistenbüro GbR

Gender Notice. The personal designations used in this text always refer equally to female, male and diverse persons. Double/triple naming and gendered designations are used for better readability. ected.