The event will be led by our President, Matti Aapro, and Co-Chairs of our Special Network on the Impact of Covid-19 on Cancer, Mirjam Crul and Mark Lawler. It will include a presentation on the latest data intelligence that has been commissioned by the European Cancer Organisation, as well as a presentation of the Time To Act resources and tools that are being launched across Europe in many languages, given the cross-border impact of both Covid-19 and Cancer and our 7-Point Plan to Address the Urgency and Build Back Better launched during the European Cancer Summit last November.
The European Cancer Organisation has also been asked to present this work to the Special Committee on Beating Cancer (BECA) the previous day, on 10 May, as they have just published the summary report of its consultation exercise with stakeholders about the impact of Covid-19 on Cancer care across Europe. More information about this report, and other initiatives around Covid-19 and Cancer, can be found below.
Please join the European Cancer community for this important virtual event and campaign launch on Tuesday 11 May from 11:00-12:00 CEST. We look forward to you joining us!
BECA Summary Report
Some key points include:
- The unity of concern from stakeholders about the forthcoming impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic in respect to delayed detection and diagnosis of cancer, and disrupted prevention programmes, such as HPV vaccination
- The significant impacts that the pandemic has created in respect to the working conditions of healthcare professionals, including their safety and psychological well-being
- Strong support expressed for reconfiguring EU health cooperation structures following the pandemic, including extending the legal mandates of the European Medicines Agency (e.g. to tackle medicines shortages) and the European Centre for Disease prevention and Control (ECDC)
- Prominent responses from across the cancer community about the psychological impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic for cancer patients, their families and loved ones. This includes increasing the sense of isolation and loneliness experienced with cancer, as well as fear and uncertainty
The European Cancer Organisation is looking forward to working with BECA in promoting the findings and recommendations contained in the report and thank the Committee for their leadership role on the pressing issue of addressing Covid-19’s impact on Cancer services. The Committee’s report is available here.
Joint Letter to Governments on Cancer and Covid-19
On 8 April 2021, a joint letter was published, signed by over 290 international, national and regional cancer organisations around the globe, led by the European Cancer Patient Coalition (ECPC)and including the European Cancer Organisation and the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC), calling for governments to:
- Ensure patients can access diagnosis and treatment safely,
- Identify the impact of the pandemic on cancer services and design services to mitigate
- Resource cancer services properly and safely for the long term Patients must be at the centre as action is taken to rebuild a
More information here.
Information for organisations wishing to sign the letter here.
IARC Guidance on Best Practices to Maintain Quality-assured Cancer Screening During the Covid-19 Pandemic
On 6 April, a team of public health specialists led by scientists from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), published Comprehensive guidance on best practices to maintain quality-assured cancer screening during the COVID-19 pandemic. The article was published in the journal JCO Global Oncology.
The authors explain that restarting cancer screening activities in the post-COVID era will require a well-coordinated effort to reorganize clinical services to minimize backlogs in services and to reach out to communities more proactively to encourage people to return to routine health care. The team proposes that this period should be considered as an opportunity to improve the organization, quality, and reach of cancer screening programmes through the pragmatic application of technology and innovations and the retraction of non-evidence-based practices that may currently be in use.
More information here.
Speakers
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Stella Kyriakides European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety (DG SANTE)
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Bartosz Arłukowicz MEP Chairman of the Special Committee on Beating Cancer (BECA)
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Aron Anderson Cancer Ambassador for Europe, World Health Organization
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Sara Cerdas MEP Shadow Rapporteur, EU4HEALTH; Vice Chair of the Special Committee on Beating Cancer (BECA) and Co-chair, ENVI Committee Health Working Group
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Manfred Weber MEP Chairman, EPP Group in the European Parliament
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Alessandra Moretti MEP Member of the Special Committee on Beating Cancer (BECA)
Speakers
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Stella Kyriakides European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety (DG SANTE)
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Bartosz Arłukowicz MEP Chairman of the Special Committee on Beating Cancer (BECA)
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Aron Anderson Cancer Ambassador for Europe, World Health Organization
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Sara Cerdas MEP Shadow Rapporteur, EU4HEALTH; Vice Chair of the Special Committee on Beating Cancer (BECA) and Co-chair, ENVI Committee Health Working Group
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Manfred Weber MEP Chairman, EPP Group in the European Parliament
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Alessandra Moretti MEP Member of the Special Committee on Beating Cancer (BECA)
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Stella Kyriakides European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety (DG SANTE)
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Sara Cerdas MEP Shadow Rapporteur, EU4HEALTH; Vice Chair of the Special Committee on Beating Cancer (BECA) and Co-chair, ENVI Committee Health Working Group
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Manfred Weber MEP Chairman, EPP Group in the European Parliament
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Tiemo Wölken MEP Member, Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament
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Sandra Gallina Director-General, Health and Food Safety (DG SANTE)
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Andreas Charalambous President-elect and Workforce Network Co-chair, European Cancer Organisation
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Mark Lawler Board Member, European Cancer Organisation and Special Network on the Impact of Covid-19 on Cancer Co-chair Read Bio
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Mirjam Crul Board Member, European Cancer Organisation, Special Network on the Impact of Covid-19 on Cancer Co-chair and Workforce Network Co-chair Read Bio
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Isabel Rubio Board Member and Prevention Network Co-chair, European Cancer Organisation, President of EUSOMA and President-elect of ESSO
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Csaba Degi Board Member, European Cancer Organisation and Survivorship and Quality of Life Network Co-chair, Director of IPOS
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Thierry Philip EU Cancer Mission Assembly Member and President, Organisation of European Cancer Institutes
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Kathy Oliver Vice Chair, European Cancer Organisation's Patient Advisory Committee
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Fatima Cardoso Director, ABC Global Alliance, Director, Champalimaud Clinical Centre
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Alex Filicevas Director, World Bladder Cancer Patient Coalition
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Johan De Munter President, European Oncology Nursing Society
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Antonino Spinelli General Secretary, European Society of Coloproctology and Board Member, Guidelines Committee, European Crohn’s and Colitis Organization
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Teodora Kolarova Executive Director, International Neuroendocrine Cancer Alliance
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Marius Geantă Co-founder and President, Center for Innovation in Medicine
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Jacqueline Daly Secretary to the Board, European Cancer Patient Coalition
Speakers
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Stella Kyriakides European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety (DG SANTE)
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Bartosz Arłukowicz MEP Chairman of the Special Committee on Beating Cancer (BECA)
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Aron Anderson Cancer Ambassador for Europe, World Health Organization
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Sara Cerdas MEP Shadow Rapporteur, EU4HEALTH; Vice Chair of the Special Committee on Beating Cancer (BECA) and Co-chair, ENVI Committee Health Working Group
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Manfred Weber MEP Chairman, EPP Group in the European Parliament
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Alessandra Moretti MEP Member of the Special Committee on Beating Cancer (BECA)
Timings are subject to change. All times are in CEST.
11:00-11:05 Welcome and Introduction
Matti Aapro, President of the European Cancer Organisation and Stella Kyriakides, European Commissioner for Health & Food Safety
11:05-11:10 The Impact of Covid-19 on Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment: The Data Led Response
Mark Lawler, Co-Chair of Special Network on the Impact of Covid-19 on Cancer, European Cancer Organisation
11:10-11:15 Time to Act: No Country Left Behind
Mirjam Crul, Co-Chair of Special Network on the Impact of Covid-19 on Cancer, European Cancer Organisation
11:15-11:20 Time to Act: the EU Parliament’s Response
Bartosz Arlukowicz MEP, Chair of the EU Parliament’s Special Committee on Beating Cancer (BECA)
11:20-11:25 Time to Act across 53 countries in WHO/Europe
Aron Anderson, Cancer Ambassador for Europe, World Health Organization
11:25-11:30 Time to Act for Patients’ Rights: The European Code of Cancer Practice
Kathy Oliver, Co-Chair of the Patient Advisory Committee, European Cancer Organisation
11:30-11:35 Time to Give Healthcare Professionals the Right Tools for the Job
Andreas Charalambous, President Elect of the European Cancer Organisation
11:35-11:50 Time to Act with Unity
Live discussion between Matti Aapro, President of the European Cancer Organisation and:
- Sara Cerdas MEP (Portugal)
- Alessandra Moretti MEP (Italy)
- Frances Fitzgerald MEP (Ireland)
Including the European Cancer Community Speaking as One
Oncologists, Nurses, Pharmacists, Patients and Politicians around Europe voice their support
11:50-12:00 Time to Act: Building Back Better
Sandra Gallina, Director-General – Directorate-General Health and Food Safety (DG SANTE) in conversation with Matti Aapro, President of the European Cancer Organisation
12:00 Event concludes, with more available on our website: www.europeancancer.org
Speakers
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Stella Kyriakides European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety (DG SANTE)
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Bartosz Arłukowicz MEP Chairman of the Special Committee on Beating Cancer (BECA)
-
Aron Anderson Cancer Ambassador for Europe, World Health Organization
-
Sara Cerdas MEP Shadow Rapporteur, EU4HEALTH; Vice Chair of the Special Committee on Beating Cancer (BECA) and Co-chair, ENVI Committee Health Working Group
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Manfred Weber MEP Chairman, EPP Group in the European Parliament
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Alessandra Moretti MEP Member of the Special Committee on Beating Cancer (BECA)
Campaign Supporters
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Acute Leukemia Advocates Network -
AstraZeneca -
BD -
Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiological Society of Europe -
Digestive Cancer Europe -
European Association of Nuclear Medicine -
European Association for Palliative Care -
European Association for the Study of Obesity -
European Association of Urology -
European Association of Urology Nurses -
European Cancer Patient Coalition -
European Federation for Colposcopy -
European Hematology Association -
European Hereditary Tumour Group -
European Oncology Nursing Society -
European Pain Federation -
European Respiratory Society -
European School of Oncology -
European Society of Breast Imaging -
European Society for Hybrid, Molecular and Translational Imaging -
European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology -
European Society of Breast Cancer Specialists -
European Society of Coloproctology -
European Society of Oncologic Imaging -
European Society of Oncology Pharmacy -
European Society of Pathology -
European Society of Radiology -
European Society of Surgical Oncology -
International Brain Tumour Alliance -
International Neuroendocrine Cancer Alliance -
International Papillomavirus Society -
International Psycho-Oncology Society -
International Society of Geriatric Oncology -
Lymphoma Coalition Europe -
Melanoma Patient Network Europe -
Multinational Association of Supportive Care of Cancer -
Myeloma Patients Europe -
Organisation of European Cancer Institutes -
Pfizer -
Roche -
Global Colon Cancer Association -
Wonca Europe -
EuropaProperty
Speakers
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Stella Kyriakides European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety (DG SANTE)
-
Bartosz Arłukowicz MEP Chairman of the Special Committee on Beating Cancer (BECA)
-
Aron Anderson Cancer Ambassador for Europe, World Health Organization
-
Sara Cerdas MEP Shadow Rapporteur, EU4HEALTH; Vice Chair of the Special Committee on Beating Cancer (BECA) and Co-chair, ENVI Committee Health Working Group
-
Manfred Weber MEP Chairman, EPP Group in the European Parliament
-
Alessandra Moretti MEP Member of the Special Committee on Beating Cancer (BECA)
