the earlier, the better – POLITICO

We often see gloomy headlines about cancer remaining the second-leading cause of death globally. It accounted for almost 1.3 million deaths in the EU in 2020.¹ Yet, we often forget that the science to beat cancer has been progressing at an unprecedented speed.

Cancer screening and more effective treatment have contributed to decreasing mortality, and new technologies such as liquid biopsy and some early-stage interventions will reinforce the trend. Between 2012 and 2018 alone, more than 118 cancer medicines with 164 indications were approved in Europe.²

That progress allows us to envision an optimistic future where cancer is detected and treated as early as possible, giving everyone the greatest chance to live cancer-free. In this vision, ‘early’ cancer care — early detection, including screening and diagnosis, and early treatment, including timely referral and access to care — is crucial.

Between 2012 and 2018 alone, more than 118 cancer medicines with 164 indications were approved in Europe.

Time to prioritize ‘early’

Thanks to new detection methods, cancers like breast and prostate are increasingly diagnosed early, but the overall picture remains mixed. In other cancers, such as lung, colorectal, or pancreatic, most patients have an advanced stage of the disease at initial diagnosis.³

Cancer patients have the best chance of becoming and staying cancer-free when diagnosed and treated early: 98 percent of breast cancer patients will survive for five or more years if diagnosed at the earliest stage, compared to just 26 percent of patients diagnosed at the most advanced stage.⁴ 90 percent of lung cancer patients will survive for at least a year if diagnosed in stage one, but only 20 percent will when diagnosed in stage four.⁵ The proposed Council recommendations on cancer screening — specifically, to improve existing programs for breast, colorectal and cervical cancer, while extending screening to lung, prostate and gastric cancer — reflect the latest diagnostic and technological advances, and represent a step in the right direction.

‘Early’ cancer care — early detection, including screening and diagnosis, and early treatment, including timely referral and access to care — is crucial.

Health care systems need to get ready

As science and technology develop, health care systems must evolve at the same pace. Redirecting patient pathways, health care funding and health management toward early cancer care will not only save more lives, but also prove more cost-effective by reducing the need for higher-cost, later-stage treatment, as well as reducing recurrences and cancer-related symptoms. Even when health care budgets are stretched, governments that prioritize early cancer care can maintain a stable level of health care expenditure on cancer while improving survival rates.

98 percent of breast cancer patients will survive for five or more years if diagnosed at the earliest stage.

Knowledge is power

People’s ability to access and understand health information — their health literacy — plays a critical role in their health outcomes. Those who get checked as soon as they notice a possible symptom and who are confident in evaluating all their care options are more likely to make well-rounded health decisions.

Even when health care budgets are stretched, governments that prioritize early cancer care can maintain a stable level of health care expenditure on cancer while improving survival rates.

Improving cancer literacy would help increase patients’ understanding of new technologies and medical terms, leading to better management of their own health. In this endeavor, we must recognize distinct cultural, linguistic and social factors affecting individuals and communities. In other words, health coaching needs to meet them where they are.

Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan is just the beginning

Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan and Mission on Cancer have generated momentum toward better and more equitable cancer care. We — policymakers in health and finance, health care professionals, patient advocacy groups and the private sector — have much to do to reach a consensus on early cancer care. We’re thrilled to see that consensus beginning to form at the recent European Cancer Forum in Brussels.

Meanwhile, we can’t rest. I’m hopeful that joint commitment and collective action will lead to heightened focus and radical prioritization of early cancer care in the Beating Cancer Plan to be reviewed by the European Commission by the end of 2024.

[1] European Cancer Information System, Estimates of cancer incidence and mortality in 2020, all countries; accessed November 2022

[2] Hofmarcher, T. et al. (2019) Comparator Report on Cancer in Europe 2019, IHE Report 2019:7. IHE: Lund, Sweden

[3] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (2021), Incidence and Relative Survival by Stage at Diagnosis for Common Cancers; accessed November 2022

[4] Cancer Research UK, Breast Cancer Statistics; accessed November 2022

[5] Cancer Research UK, Why is early diagnosis important?; accessed November 2022