LET'S ACT AGAINST CANCER
One in four deaths in Europe are due to cancer. What can we do to beat it? Cancer knows no social status. Cancer knows no boundaries. We are convinced that Europe can make a difference and we have a plan on how to shift the trend. Click below and see how you can support us in doing that!
#EUCanBeatCancer is a campaign brought to you by the EPP Group in the European Parliament.
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The fight against cancer is a field where European cooperation, pooling of data and resources can make a real difference.
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The EPP Group
wants
- More and better cooperation between research centres across Europe.
- More money for cancer research.
- To make sure the same quality care will be accessible across Europe.
Your Stories
Everybody has their own story about cancer. Thanks for following ours. You can support us here by speaking about it.
When I was a girl, living in Brussels, my little sister died of cancer at the age of eleven. I remember the utter sense of helplessness of my parents, but also of the medical staff who looked after her with such care. Every one of us has a similar story – or knows someone who has. The number of cancer cases are rising but we are getting better at diagnosis and treatment. Europe will take the lead in the fight against cancer.
Ursula Von der Leyen, Germany
I myself was diagnosed many years ago with breast cancer, and, unfortunately more than once. I know first-hand how working together can change things. Voices need to be louder and stronger, more persistent and sustainable so that we can make a difference.
Stella Kyriakides, Cyprus
When this happens to you as a family, you feel so helpless. Many families all over Europe experience this pain. That’s why we need to take action. Doctors and experts tell us it is possible to cure cancer. It’s a question of political will, of investment, of research capacity, and of pooling the data: this is vital in the fight against cancer on a European level.
Manfred Weber, Germany
This December, I got the news that one of my best friends had cancer. She had surgery, three times. She regretted not seeing a doctor sooner because when she finally did, it was almost too late. We really have to beat cancer so that people don’t suffer anymore.
Monika Hohlmeier, Germany
I remember one day a friend of mine called and he said: "Seán, I have the big C." "Jim", I said, "I am sorry to hear that. How long do you have to live?" He said: "At most, three months." He was gone in two.
Seán Kelly, Ireland
Tell your Story
Everybody has their own story about cancer. Thanks for following ours. You can support us here by speaking about it.
Our 10-step European Master Plan
If we are to shift the trend, we have to work together. We urge the Member States to join forces and fight cancer by stepping up our cooperation in the field of research, prevention, early detection, and patient support.
Closing the research gap
By linking vast amounts of information through a European Digital Cancer Centre, as a decentralised database, we can close the research gap using the potential of Big Data. We want to enable researchers and future generations of data scientists to achieve breakthrough advancements by seeing the bigger picture and not to waste precious time.
Protecting patients’ right to privacy
Europe has a unique model of innovation: we put people at the centre. Unlike China or the US, in Europe, we strike a balance between progress and protection. We must embrace the potential of innovation, while setting clear ethical and social standards. This is why we want to establish an Internet Think-Tank where our researchers will be able to shape future innovation while translating our core values in the digital age.
Ensuring the same quality care across Europe
We will strive to reach the same quality level of cancer care in each European country. Therefore, we will encourage an agreement among European organisations representing cancer institutions, healthcare professionals, patients, and other stakeholders on a European quality accreditation for cancer centres to set core standards and evidence-based indicators for measuring the quality of all cancer services.
Encouraging prevention and early detection
With effective preventive measures, we could avoid 40% of all cancer cases. We want to encourage cooperation between research centres across Europe in prevention and raise awareness on risk factors as well as step up regulatory measures. Likewise, the ability to identify the disease before it is too advanced is critical to saving thousands of lives. For this reason, we want to establish a coherent European cancer prevention and early detection strategy.
Giving cancer research a new boost
We want to set free all of our continent’s capacity by promoting European Universities and research centres to empower our top talent alongside attracting the best researchers to Europe. This is why we want to increase the EU research budget by 50% (Horizon Europe), from €80 to €120 billion in the next seven years (2021-2027).
Bringing our professionals together
All centres and hospitals in Europe must be able to reach the highest standard of care and benefit from the opportunities for European synergies. This is crucial in the case of clinical trials for which only a limited number of cases exists nationally: by combining studies on a European level, researchers can reach significant and quicker solutions, especially for patients with rare forms of cancer. We want to launch a European Partnering Programme for all centres and hospitals to reach the highest standards, regardless of their size.
Leaving no-one behind
There should be no difference in cancer care across regions. Patients from remote areas have to be able to benefit from the same quality of care as patients in central areas. Europe must strive to achieve the same survival rates for good prognosis patients in every European country. We can break down the distance barriers by creating a European Telemedicine and e-health Platform to reach every corner of the continent.
Equipping Europe with the most advanced infrastructure
If Europe wants to succeed in the fight against cancer while protecting our patients’ data, we cannot keep relying on technology from China and the US that does not meet our security standards. Therefore, we want to launch an Investment Plan 4.0 for every region to have access to the latest digital infrastructure such as supercomputing and cloud technology.
Helping patients during treatment and aftercare
We must focus on psychological support and on improving the information available on the treatment and care process. Caregivers also deserve much more assistance in their private lives. Finally, we should encourage Member States to strengthen the right to be forgotten so that cured patients are truly free to go on with their lives without being discriminated for their difficult medical history.
Keeping the fight against cancer an EU top priority
In the new legislative term, the EPP Group will work closely with the European Commission to deliver on the fight against cancer. To make sure the European Parliament stands ready to follow up and be an effective counterpart to the Commissioner for Health, the EPP Group proposed the establishment of a Special Committee on Cancer in the European Parliament to keep this issue at the top of the European agenda.
Campaign-News
The fight against cancer is a field where European cooperation, pooling of data and resources can make a real difference in the lives of millions of Europeans.
Watch the stories that matter
Childhood Cancer Day
On 15 February, we commemorate International Childhood Cancer Day. Sadly, 6000 children and teenagers die from cancer every year in Europe. We want to make sure that Europe unites its forces to secure our children's future by coming up with appropriate treatment that leaves no one behind.
FB LIVE: Manfred Weber & Dr Matti Aapro
EPP Group Chairman Manfred Weber and Dr Matti Aapro discussing how Europe can beat cancer and how Europeans can support the campaign.
The EPP Group wants to make the fight against cancer a top EU priority
The fight against cancer is a field where European cooperation, pooling of data and resources can make a real difference in the lives of millions of Europeans.
