Improving women’s health must become an EU priority

ECO’s submission makes one thing clear: 12 million women living with cancer in Europe represent 12 million reasons for action. Cancer and women's health cannot be an afterthought in the EU’s gender equality strategy. Without political will, the EU risks falling short on its promise of health equity for all women – especially those too often pushed to the margins of healthcare systems.

The European Cancer Organisation’s response highlights:

• Unequal cancer care: Oncology care – including even the most basic information for women – remains fragmented and insufficient across EU Member States. Gender-sensitive medical practice is urgently needed.
• Clinical trial exclusion: Women are still underrepresented in clinical trials, limiting their access to the latest, most effective cancer treatments.
• Gender bias: Non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including cancers, are frequently underdiagnosed and under treated, due to medical gender bias and symptom overlap.
• LGBTIQ+ disparities: LGBTIQ+ women face systemic barriers in prevention, diagnosis, and treatment, driven by discrimination and clinical bias.
• Harmful industry practices: Alcohol marketing to women exploits stereotypes and increases cancer risk. This requires stronger public health regulation.

As the SANT Committee prepares its next steps, the European Cancer Organisation calls for women’s cancer rights to become a key pillar of its Gender Equality Strategy – including better access to screening and HPV vaccination, improved fertility care and counselling, stronger caregiver protection, and achieving equality for women in the cancer care workforce.

More on the 5 Women Cancer Rights here.