Cancer Prevention Europe

Abstract

The case for cancer prevention in Europe is the same as for all other parts of the world. The number of cancers is increasing, driven by demographic change and evolution in the exposure to risk factors, while the cost of treating patients is likewise spiralling. Estimations suggest that around 40% of cancers in Europe could be prevented if current understanding of risk and protective factors was translated into effective primary prevention, with further reductions in cancer incidence and mortality by screening, other approaches to early detection, and potentially medical prevention. However, the infrastructure for cancer prevention tends to be fragmented between and within different countries in Europe. This lack of a coordinated approach recently led to the foundation of Cancer Prevention Europe (Forman et al ., 2018), a collaborative network with the main aims of strengthening cancer prevention in Europe by increasing awareness of the needs, the associated required resources and reducing inequalities in access to cancer prevention across Europe. This article showcases the need for strengthening cancer prevention and introduces the objectives of Cancer Prevention Europe and its foreseen future role in reducing the European cancer burden.

Translational cancer research – a coherent cancer research continuum

“…To increase international research collaborations and improve interaction between the different components needed for a coherent cancer prevention research continuum, Cancer Prevention Europe was created in 2018 (Forman et al ., ) (see also the article by Wild et al ., and references therein). Like in the case of therapeutics, the different components of the research continuum for cancer prevention are not sufficiently connected.…”

Boosting the social impact of innovative cancer research – towards a mission‐oriented approach to cancer

“…Wild et al . () describe the consortium and highlight its potential to contribute to effective cancer control.…”

“…Both therapeutics and prevention are needed to tackle the increasing cancer problem, and therefore, Cancer Prevention Europe, a consortium of 10 cancer research centres, was recently established to structure and strengthen prevention research. Wild et al (2019) describe the consortium and highlight its potential to contribute to effective cancer control.…”

Cancer screening – Why do we still debate about the benefits?

“…It has been estimated that 40% of cancer cases could be prevented if the current knowledge of the risk factors could be translated into effective primary prevention methods. Additionally, further reduction in cancer incidence and mortality could be accomplished through screening and other early detection methods 3 . The benefits and importance of cancer screening programs has also been recognized by the European Union, which in 2003 issued its Council Recommendation on cancer screening, 4 and in 2017 its report on the implementation of cancer screening in Europe 5 .…”

“…Additionally, further reduction in cancer incidence and mortality could be accomplished through screening and other early detection methods. 3 The benefits and importance of cancer screening programs has also been recognized by the European Union, which in 2003 issued its Council Recommendation on cancer screening, 4 and in 2017 its report on the implementation of cancer screening in Europe. 5 Of the screening programs recommended by the EU, colorectal cancer screening has been the last to be implemented.…”