New initiatives for treatment of cancer announced the Commissionwith the aim of increasing it access to cancer prevention, early detection, treatment and care. Particular emphasis is placed on HPV vaccination and the treatment of cervical cancer, but on the creation of a register of inequalities.
These steps were announced at the event “Ensuring Equal Access for All: Cancer in Women – European Cancer Plan”, organized by EU Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, Stella Kyriakidou.
The event focused on gender inequalities and specific measures to treat cancer in women. It was the first of a series of events, with the focus on how to increase equal access for all to cancer prevention and care.
The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen “We made the fight against cancer a priority for this Commission when we launched the European Cancer Plan. Our goal is for everyone in our European Union to receive the treatment they need for cancer. We know that this fight went back because of the pandemic, with an estimated one million cases that could not have been diagnosed at this time. Cancer is a personal story for all of us. That is why we will work for prevention, early diagnosis and equal access to care to win this race. “
On average, cancer affects men slightly more than women in Europe, with 54% of new cases and 56% of deaths. However, female breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer (over 355,000 women in the EU by 2020).
The Vice-President of the Committee for the Promotion of our European Lifestyle, Margaritis Schoinas, stressed that “cancer affects us all and the fight against it remains a priority. One year after we started the Cancer Plan, today we are taking important steps together to ensure equal access for all to cancer prevention and care. Inequalities have no place in a Europe based on solidarity. National governments and public health authorities alone can not reverse the anti-cancer situation. Only through the full cooperation and strong commitment of all will we help to improve the lives of our citizens and reduce the pain of many. “Prevention and diagnosis are at the heart of this common journey, which is only at the beginning.”
There are also significant disparities within and between EU Member States and between population groups in the areas of detection, diagnosis, treatment and quality of patient care. This is particularly striking given the estimated rates of cervical cancer and mortality rates (eight times in 2020 across the EU). The fact that these variants exist can be explained by differences in the prevalence of human papillomavirus (HPV), vaccination and screening policies for cervical cancer in EU countries.
Reducing inequalities throughout the course of the disease is the primary goal of the European Cancer Plan.
THE EU Commissioner for Health and Food Safety Stella Kyriakidou, noted that “a year after its launch, the European Cancer Plan makes a difference. This year, the event for World Cancer Day will focus on tackling cancer inequalities in women, the need for optimal European cooperation and tackling, and the specific actions of the Plan that will invest in prevention. Most importantly, we will ensure that the voices of those whose lives have been affected by cancer are heard. In light of the effects of COVID-19 on screening, treatment and care, addressing this major public health challenge is now more urgent than ever. We need to close the gaps and ensure equal access for all. Our plan against cancer is the roadmap for action in Europe to make a difference in the lives of all cancer patients and their loved ones. This plan concerns us all!
The Commission is currently launching four new actions of the EU Cancer Plan to support Member States addressing inequalities and improving screening and vaccination against HPV, as well as support for people diagnosed with cancer:
– The Register of Cancer Inequalities identify trends and inequalities between Member States and regions. It also sheds light on inequalities in cancer prevention and care based on gender, education and income, as well as inequalities between urban and rural areas. The Register will guide investments and interventions at EU, national and regional level.
– The call for screening for cancer will be used to update the 2003 Council Recommendation on screening. This is part of the goal of the Cancer Plan, which is to ensure that 90% of the EU population is eligible for breast, cervical and colon cancer screening by 2025.
– A joint action on HPV vaccination will support Member States to raise awareness and promote vaccination. This will contribute to a key goal of the Cancer Plan: to reduce cervical cancer through HPV vaccination of at least 90% of the target population of EU girls, and to significantly increase the vaccination of boys by in 2030.
– The Youth Network who have contracted and overcome cancer in the EU will strengthen the long-term follow-up of cancer care plans at national and regional level. It will also connect young people with a history of cancer and their families as well as those who have been cared for formally or informally.
Elena Papadimitriot
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