“Cancer concerns all of us. Personally, or through friends or family, each one of us has been or probably will be confronted by cancer at a moment in his existence. Cancer threatens our lives, destiny strikes, priorities become relative, and hope disappears, often accompanied by physical and moral pain”

The French President went on to say that curing cancer means not only curing the patient. It also means reinforcing human solidarity towards those who suffer from cancer, to improve their daily lives and in the continuous battle against discrimination.

This message was read to Forum participants by Professor David Khayat, Chief of the Cancer Service at the Pitié-Salpétrière Hospital, Paris, France and former President of the French National Cancer Institute.

Click below to read speech in full (French only)