Community 365 Roundtable | 'Men and Cancer: Distinct Challenges, Distinct Opportunities'
Men still hit obstacles at every stage of cancer care – from prevention and early detection through treatment and life afterwards. Many are raised to tough things out and avoid asking for help. Add in the embarrassment of discussing intimate symptoms, a health system that's often difficult to figure out, and care that's scattered across different places – and it's no surprise many men struggle to look after themselves or get the support they need.
Unequal access means some men miss out on the latest therapies, and once treatment is over, their physical, emotional and social needs are often left unmet.
This ECO Community 365 Roundtable brought together policymakers, healthcare professionals, patient representatives, researchers and other stakeholders to examine the need for stronger gender-informed men’s health and cancer policies and programmes. Taking place during Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union, the discussion also drew on Ireland’s experience as the first country to introduce a national men’s health policy.
The roundtable reflected on existing initiatives and identify practical policy priorities to better address men’s physical, psychological and social needs throughout the cancer pathway, while improving prevention, screening, treatment, survivorship and quality of life.
The roundtable will be chaired by:
ECO Board Member
Global Action on Men’s Health
Discussion sessions
Watch the recording
Speakers
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Peter Albers Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf & ECO Board Member
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Peter Baker Global Action on Men’s Health
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Melissa Corbally Trinity College Dublin
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Liora Bowers Policy Analyst, Health Division, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
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Pritha Kuchaculla Amgen
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Yasmine Hassan AstraZeneca
Speakers
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Peter Albers Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf & ECO Board Member
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Peter Baker Global Action on Men’s Health
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Melissa Corbally Trinity College Dublin
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Liora Bowers Policy Analyst, Health Division, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
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Pritha Kuchaculla Amgen
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Yasmine Hassan AstraZeneca
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Melissa Corbally Trinity College Dublin
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Liora Bowers Policy Analyst, Health Division, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Read Bio
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Yasmine Hassan AstraZeneca
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Noel Richardson Director, National Centre for Men's Health, Technological University of the South East, Ireland Read Bio
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Roderick van den Bergh Erasmus MC, Rotterdam | Anser prostate cancer network | PRAISE-U Project Read Bio
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Laurent Antoni Johnson & Johnson
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Wolfgang Fendler University Hospital Essen
Speakers
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Peter Albers Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf & ECO Board Member
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Peter Baker Global Action on Men’s Health
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Melissa Corbally Trinity College Dublin
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Liora Bowers Policy Analyst, Health Division, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
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Pritha Kuchaculla Amgen
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Yasmine Hassan AstraZeneca
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15:00–15:10 |
Welcome and Introductions Welcome from co-chairs Peter Albers and Peter Baker |
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15:10–15:55 |
An Institutional Framework: How Gender Norms Shape Men’s Health and the Need for Gender-Informed Health Policies Co-chaired by Peter Baker, Chief Executive, Global Action on Men’s Health, and Yasmine Hassan, Director, Global Oncology Policy, Advocacy and Health Equity, AstraZeneca Opening Presentation Liora Bowers - Policy Analyst, OECD Health Division Setting the evidence base on the distinct cancer burden faced by men across Europe and the implications for more responsive, gender-informed health policies. Responding Panellists Noel Richardson - Director, National Centre for Men's Health, Technological University of the South East Drawing on Ireland’s pioneering National Men’s Health Policy to explore how gender norms shape men’s health behaviours and the case for dedicated men’s health policies. Yasmine Hassan - Director, Global Oncology Policy, Advocacy and Health Equity, AstraZeneca Previewing the Global Prostate Cancer Manifesto and its policy roadmap on early detection, equitable access to care and survivorship. Q&A with Participants |
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15:55–16:40 |
From Detection, to Diagnosis, to Treatment: Men and Cancer Challenges Co-chaired by Peter Albers, Professor of Urology and Chairman, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf and ECO Board Member, and Laurent Antoni, EMEA Medical Affairs Director, Johnson & Johnson Opening Presentation Prof. Thorsten Ecke - Professor, Department of Urology, Charité University Hospital Berlin, Germany Exploring the detection and diagnosis challenges affecting men, with a particular focus on bladder cancer, awareness and stronger diagnostic pathways. Responding Panellists Dr Roderick Van Den Bergh - PRAISE-U Board Member; Urologist, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute Sharing lessons from PRAISE-U on risk-based prostate cancer screening, participation and more effective early detection pathways. Prof. Dr med. Wolfgang Fendler - Vice Chair and Head of Translational Oncology, Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital Essen Exploring the evolving role of nuclear medicine in prostate cancer, from molecular imaging for detection and staging to radionuclide therapy, and what is needed to translate these advances into clinical practice and improve access and outcomes. Q&A with Participants |
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16:40–17:25 |
Innovation in Men’s Cancer Care: Treatment, Survivorship and Quality of Life Co-chaired by Peter Baker, Chief Executive, Global Action on Men’s Health, and Pritha Kuchaculla, Global Oncology Patient Advocacy, Amgen Opening Presentation Prof. Günter Niegisch - Full Professor GU Oncology, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf Exploring how innovation is reshaping prostate and bladder cancer treatment, including precision medicine, radioligand therapy and personalised approaches. Responding Panellists Prof. Melissa Corbally - Associate Professor, School of Nursing & Midwifery, Trinity College Dublin Examining how men experience diagnosis, treatment and recovery, and how care can better address physical, psychological and social needs. Dr Erik Briers - Board Member and Chairman, Europa Uomo Bringing the patient perspective on informed treatment choices, quality of life and survivorship support as cancer care continues to evolve. Q&A with Participants |
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17:25–17:30 |
Closing Remarks Peter Albers and Peter Baker Followed by a brief update from the European Cancer Organisation on the European Cancer Summit 2026 and ongoing Men and Cancer activities. |
Speakers
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Peter Albers Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf & ECO Board Member
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Peter Baker Global Action on Men’s Health
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Melissa Corbally Trinity College Dublin
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Liora Bowers Policy Analyst, Health Division, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
-
Pritha Kuchaculla Amgen
-
Yasmine Hassan AstraZeneca
Speakers
-
Peter Albers Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf & ECO Board Member
-
Peter Baker Global Action on Men’s Health
-
Melissa Corbally Trinity College Dublin
-
Liora Bowers Policy Analyst, Health Division, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
-
Pritha Kuchaculla Amgen
-
Yasmine Hassan AstraZeneca
