About WCA

After having organized two World CUP Awareness Weeks in 2021 and 2022 with awareness events and informative webinars for patients and clinicians, reaching 9 million accounts in 170 countries, SJK Foundation (Ireland) and Missie Tumor Onbekend (the Netherlands) have joined forces to launch the first international Cancer of Unknown Primary (CUP) patient advocacy alliance.

It is our objective to build an international alliance of all those patient advocates that are focused on improving diagnostics, treatments and care journeys for all patients affected by CUP. Together we are advocates for the implementation of, awareness of and accessibility of precision oncology. As innovations in oncology and the ease of patient interaction is truly happening on a global scale, it is now more important than ever, to share knowledge and learn from examples in different countries and across health systems.

To date we have been able to unite patient advocates not only from Ireland and the Netherlands, but also including the UK, the US and Belgium. The World CUP Alliance will pursue three main activities.

Raise awareness and provide information
& peer support to patients

Support the development of universal patient information folders in different languages on the basis of best practices and tailored to national settings

Continue to organize (bi)-yearly World CUP Awareness Weeks to increase awareness and focus attention on unmet needs

Support the organization of “Into the unknown” awareness and fundraising events in different countries

Raise awareness and provide information
& peer support to patients

Support the development of universal patient information folders in different languages on the basis of best practices and tailored to national settings

Continue to organize (bi)-yearly World CUP Awareness Weeks to increase awareness and focus attention on unmet needs

Support the organization of “Into the unknown” awareness and fundraising events in different countries

Advocating for the best CUP patient journey

Advocate for access to precision diagnostics & precision therapies, for example via patient journey mapping and sharing of relevant patient stories

Advocate for a ‘two-step approach’ in clinical care: the best diagnostics whilst at the same time offering best supportive care based on patient needs and preferences

Learn from and unite different national & international guidelines

Advocating for the best CUP patient journey

Advocate for access to precision diagnostics & precision therapies, for example via patient journey mapping and sharing of relevant patient stories

Advocate for a ‘two-step approach’ in clinical care: the best diagnostics whilst at the same time offering best supportive care based on patient needs and preferences

Learn from and unite different national & international guidelines

Co-establish & support international
research partnerships

Disseminate trial information and share best practices with patients and healthcare professionals

Provide an up-to-date overview of ongoing CUP clinical trials

Actively collaborate with research groups interested in multi-country CUP trials

Co-establish & support international
research partnerships

Disseminate trial information and share best practices with patients and healthcare professionals

Provide an up-to-date overview of ongoing CUP clinical trials

Actively collaborate with research groups interested in multi-country CUP trials

Register here for updates

Missie Tumor Onbekend
Fannius Scholtenstraat 69,
1051EV, Amsterdam,
The Netherlands

Sarah Jennifer Knott Foundation,
38 Belgrave Road,
Rathmines,
D06 HW222,
Republic of Ireland