The economic impact of cancer at the level of the European Union exceeds 100 billion euros, and the burden felt at the individual level is difficult to quantify. In Romania, 1 out of 2 people diagnosed with cancer is of working age (under 65 years old), compared to 1 out of 3 people in Western European countries, and this statistic turns cancer diagnosis into a major economic burden.
In 2020, in the European Union it is estimated that 54.3% of all cancer diagnoses are represented by breast, cervical, colorectal, prostate, lung and gastric cancer. Also in 2020, the same oncological diseases were responsible for 51% of all cancer deaths. A suitable screening strategy, together with early diagnosis, can not only save many lives and implicitly improve public health, but also reduce the burden of cancer on society.
Under the umbrella of the European Plan to Fight Cancer, the European Commission published in 2022 a series of recommendations on screening for certain types of cancer (breast, cervical, colorectal, prostate, lung and gastric). The recommendations take into account the latest innovations in the field of oncology, the newest and most effective technologies, as well as the scientific advance of the moment, covering three areas of interest – access, quality and diagnosis.
Find out what the recommendations are: Stella Kyriakides: expanding screening in the EU with three new types of cancer – prostate, lung and gastric
The new European Union recommendations emphasize the need to expand access to screening for breast, colorectal and cervical cancer, alongside the gradual introduction of testing for prostate, lung and gastric cancer:
Breast cancer – Lowering the screening age for women aged 45-74, plus MRI for those with very dense breast tissue.
Cervical cancer – HPV testing for women aged 30-65, every 5 years, taking into account HPV vaccination status.
Colorectal cancer – Testing people aged between 50-74 years by FIT to later decide the need for follow-up by endoscopy/colonoscopy.
Lung cancer – Testing people who are active smokers or who have smoked during their lifetime, aged between 50-75 years.
Prostate cancer – PSA (prostate-specific antigen) testing in men up to 70 years of age, plus MRI for follow-up.
Gastric cancer – H. pylori testing and surveillance of precancerous stomach lesions in areas where the incidence of this type of cancer is increased.
Access the resources of Raportuldegardă.ro regarding oncological screening for the six types of cancer.
The European Plan to Fight Cancer is the most important health initiative launched by the European Commission in recent years. It was launched on 3 February 2021, reflecting a political commitment to action in cancer control. The main objective of the plan is to reduce the burden of cancer, both on patients and their families and on health systems. The initiative is structured around four pillars – prevention, early detection, diagnosis and treatment, and quality of life for patients and survivors.
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2023-10-04 18:08:34
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