Dr Maira Caleffi discusses the Latin American and Caribbean Code Against Cancer and its role as a public health and prevention tool to reduce cancer incidence and mortality.

She emphasises that the Code should not remain a standalone document, but be translated into national policies, programmes, and regulatory action to improve equity and access to cancer care.

Dr Caleffi highlights the imbalance between investment in diagnosis and treatment compared with prevention, arguing that stronger focus on prevention is essential to reduce future cancer burden.

A central theme of the discussion is the role of patients, survivors, families, and civil society as powerful agents of change, supporting advocacy, accountability, and behaviour change.

She also reflects on growing global recognition of patient advocates as essential stakeholders in shaping cancer plans, stressing the need to embed this engagement at national level to ensure meaningful implementation of cancer prevention strategies.