HOW EUROPE CAN BETTER TACKLE RISING CANCER INCIDENCE EVENT REPORT https://eurac.tv/9QKt With the support of HOW EUROPE CAN BETTER TACKLE RISING CANCER INCIDENCE EVENT REPORT Cancer, the second leading cause of death globally according https://eurac.tv/9QKt to the World Health Organisation, is responsible for an estimated 9.6 million deaths in 2018. In light of projections that the cancer incidents in Europe will double by 2035, a new survey conducted by Central and Eastern European Cancer Action Group (CEECAG), has identified large differences between Europe’s west and central and eastern countries in handling cancer. In her mission letter to the proposed new EU Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides, the President-elect of the EU executive, Ursula von der Leyen, said an EU-wide “Beating Cancer” plan should be put forward in order to help member states improve cancer prevention and care. “This should propose actions to strengthen our approach at every key stage of the disease: prevention, diagnosis, treatment, life as a cancer survivor and palliative care. There should be a close link with the research mission on cancer in the future Horizon Europe programme,” von der Leyen wrote. Contents Report finds serious East-West divide in cancer handling in Europe 4 Health expert: Cancer control plans must be implemented 6 How patients’ involvement brings quality to cancer care and policymaking 8 Center-right MEPs call for special EU Parliament committee on cancer 10 Eastern Europe diversity should be considered in EU-wide cancer plan 12 Tackling disparities in cancer care across the central and eastern European region 14 4 EVENT REPORT | HOW EUROPE CAN BETTER TACKLE RISING CANCER INCIDENCE | EURACTIV Report finds serious East-West divide in cancer handling in Europe By Sarantis Michalopoulos | EURACTIV.com A new survey conducted by CEECAG, suggests that the cancer cases are expected to almost double by 2035. In the case of Europe, the report says the bloc has 1/8 of the world’s population, but at the same time ¼ of global cancer deaths. [Shutterstock] new survey conducted by A new survey conducted by differences in relation to outcomes. the Central and Eastern CEECAG suggests that cancer cases The gaps range from the existence or A European Cancer Action are expected to almost double by implementation of National Cancer Group (CEECAG) has found severe 2035. In the case of Europe, the report Control Plans (NCCP) to cancer shortcomings in managing cancer says the bloc has 1/8 of the world’s registries and research. incidents in Central and Eastern population, but at the same time ¼ of For example, according to Dr Europe (CEE), whose “young brains” global cancer deaths. Lawler, 90% of Europe’s west has increasingly move to the west. In its report, CEECAG pointed NCCP compared to only 54% in out a number of challenges that the central and eastern Europe. According to the World Health countries of Central and Eastern “That’s really important because Organisation (WHO), about one in Europe are faced with compared to you need to have some sort of a six deaths is due to cancer worldwide, Western Europe. framework that allows you to look and the disease is the second leading In an interview with EURACTIV, and see what is your current situation cause of death globally. WHO data Professor Mark Lawler, from the in relation to cancer incidence and shows that cancer was responsible Centre for Cancer Research and mortality. You need to use that data or for an estimated 9.6 million deaths in Cell Biology, said there are “cancer 2018. inequalities” in Europe as well as Continued on Page 5 EVENT REPORT | HOW EUROPE CAN BETTER TACKLE RISING CANCER INCIDENCE | EURACTIV 5 Continued from Page 4 BRAIN DRAIN cancer-intelligence to both construct Another worrying challenge and implement a national cancer the CEE countries are faced with is control plan” he said. related to the growing brain drain Dr Lawler said cancer registries of specialised doctors moving to the are a key challenge. Citing Bulgaria as west. This will inevitably make it an example, he noted that up to 2013, much harder for these countries to there was a National Cancer Registry, implement a cancer plan. but was then stopped due to some “So it’s critical that we block or stop local reasons. this brain drain and invest in people “So cancer-intelligence is an because people are the ones who are incredibly important part of how we going to deliver at the end of the day. can plan going forward. So we don’t You can have the infrastructure, which have data on how many cancers are is obviously very important, but we in a particular country, what’s the need people who will deliver,” he said, mortality, what are the survival rates, adding that in the UK, the biggest and then other significant effects,” he increase in terms of the number of added. doctors by country is actually from the Czech Republic. RESEARCH AND SCREENING Referring to resources in relation to GDP in Central and Eastern Europe, Dr Lawler noted spending is much lower than in the west. However, he called on these countries to spend the money “wisely”. “If we look at several countries in Eastern Europe, they are spending a lot on pharmaceuticals. But that’s not being reflected in improved outcomes. So you need to use your resources appropriately, to actually fund the best possible approach that would give the best outcomes for your patients.” He added that research is an integral part of a cancer strategy. “We have data showing that if you’re treated in a research-active hospital, you’re much more likely to have better outcomes.” He emphasised the role of screening as well as the need to invest more in this direction considering that the CEE region does not have effective screening programs. He cited as an example Romania, which is not equipped with a cancer screening program and this has resulted in 14.3% mortality in cervical cancer cases compared to the EU average of 3%. 6 EVENT REPORT | HOW EUROPE CAN BETTER TACKLE RISING CANCER INCIDENCE | EURACTIV INTERVIEW Health expert: Cancer control plans must be implemented By Sarantis Michalopoulos | EURACTIV.com Dr Tit Albreht is a Senior Health Services and Heath Systems researcher at the National Institute of Public Health of Slovenia. [Photo by Sarantis Michalopoulos] overnments should take Dr Tit Albreht is a Senior Health Summit on 12-14 September 2019 in full responsibility for Services and Health Systems researcher Brussels. Gimplementing national cancer at the National Institute of Public Health plans, which are a commitment of Slovenia. SMOKING AND ALCOHOL toward people and not just a piece of paper, health expert Dr Tit Albreht He spoke to EURACTIV Editor Dr Albreht said the risk factors told EURACTIV.com in an interview. Sarantis Michalopoulos on the sidelines of the ECCO 2019 European Cancer Continued on Page 7 EVENT REPORT | HOW EUROPE CAN BETTER TACKLE RISING CANCER INCIDENCE | EURACTIV 7 Continued from Page 6 called on member states to produce then nothing has happened. National Cancer Control Plans by 2013, “The plan is sitting there. And we in the region, mainly tobacco and a guide and a structure on what the even asked the government or the alcohol consumption, remain plan should include were provided. ministry to provide us with a copy. insufficiently dealt with. “But we still see that people skip And they said they could give us pieces He said there is too much freedom evaluation, that there are no targets of it. What do you mean pieces?” he of smoking as well as exposure to in the plan. The biggest problem is wondered. passive smoking for a large part of the the implementation and the classical Asked if, in Slovenia, his home population. political game. nation, the national cancer plan has “In many countries, almost “We produce the document and brought results, he replied: “We reduce half of the adult population is still now our job is done. So now it’s up the incidence of colorectal cancer smoking. When you go to these to actors in the society to implement because of the screening or program. countries, the restrictions to smoking it. Well, it’s not, because of course, It took us eight years. But we now have in public places are sometimes the cancer plan is a policy, political 25% less incidence than before.” either not introduced, or they’re document, which is a commitment. not implemented. Some of them So the ministry cannot delegate the THE IMPORTANCE OF have not even joined the framework responsibility to someone else. It SCREENING convention of tobacco control. This can of course if they appointed an had been for many years a problem in institution. But generally, it is still in Dr Albreht emphasised the role Bosnia, for example,” he said. the hands of the ministry,” he said. of screening programmes, which in He said for some countries it is a Referring to cancer registries, he the beginning indeed increase the sort of a trade-off, considering that noted that many governments view incidence because more cancers are they also grow tobacco. “Especially them as additional red tape because detected. But in the long run, it saves the tobacco industry was pressuring, they do not understand the capacity lives. even the European Commission, that that the data can have. However, he said some countries supposedly the incomes from excise “I was asked to provide my advice have to reconsider their stance toward tax, and from taxation are bigger for Serbia’s national cancer plan.