Preventing and treating cancer has been a top priority on the EU's public health agenda for nearly three decades. With an ageing population and the related increase in cancer and other chronic diseases, our efforts must only increase. Cancer is the second most common cause of death in the EU, exceeded only by cardiovascular diseases.
In 2012 alone, cancer struck 2.8 million Europeans and claimed the lives of another 1.2 million. These figures illustrate why we must be so vocal about prevention. We know that a third of all cancers are linked to lifestyle factors such as what people eat and drink, whether they smoke or if they exercise regularly. Enhanced prevention efforts could therefore help reduce cancer rates as well as the enormous burden on national healthcare budgets - treating cancer cost member states an estimated €126bn in 2009 alone.
"The European commission is committed to addressing cancer and to pooling together the strengths of member states' and stakeholders in our joint fight against the disease"
When we look back, I think that 2014 will be considered a landmark year for EU prevention initiatives in cancer. We certainly started on a positive note with the adoption of the revised tobacco products directive in March. With 700,000 Europeans dying from smoking-related causes every year, including lung and many other types of cancer, new rules aiming to dissuade smoking uptake are welcome.
The majority of smokers start young - 94 per cent begin before the age of 25. The ban on appealing flavours which have been found to prompt smoking uptake by masking harsher tobacco flavours, is therefore particularly fitting. The same holds true for the ban on attractive lipstick-style cigarette packages which are particularly appealing to girls and young women and do not ensure the full visibility of health warnings.
Forewarned is forearmed, and the large mandatory picture and text warnings on both sides of the pack of cigarettes and roll-your-own tobacco will serve as effective reminders, to young and old alike, of the severe health consequences of smoking.
Arming people with the necessary information to make informed health choices is also the principle behind the European code against cancer. Originating in 1987 as a list of easy recommendations on how to avoid cancer, the code has evolved, in keeping with recent scientific evidence. We are now expecting its fourth version during the course of 2014. The updated code will provide citizens with 12 recommendations centred around two key facts: one in three cancers can be avoided by adopting healthy lifestyles, and cancers can be cured if detected early.
Early detection is indeed a key element for improving health outcomes. Given the continued ageing of the European population, we need to keep improving the overall quality of cancer care. Care can be significantly enhanced by identifying and extending current best practices in quality based cancer care, from the delivery of early diagnosis, effective treatment and well organised rehabilitation through to palliative care.
By the end of 2012, 24 member states adopted integrated cancer plans that include screening programmes. This vital step in tackling cancer through organised activities at all levels of cancer control now needs to be taken further, through a coherent and comprehensive process of cancer control planning. The new joint action 'CANCON', takes a holistic approach towards cancer prevention and control, and will focus on shaping a 'European guide on quality improvement in comprehensive cancer control' over the next two years.
With so many activities on cancer running in parallel, coordination is paramount. This is why the commission plans to set up an EU experts group on cancer control later this year. This group will serve as a hub for stakeholders to exchange information and provide input on cancer prevention, screening and management.
The European commission is committed to addressing cancer and to pooling together the strengths of member states' and stakeholders in our joint fight against the disease. 2014 is a significant year for enhancing prevention activities and paving the way for quality assurance in cancer control. But our efforts do not stop here. The EU will continue to address cancer as a top public health priority through to the next mandate, and beyond.