Next Level for Cancer Screening: From Commitments to Continued Action for Early Cancer Detection

An estimated 31% of men and 25% of women in the EU will receive a cancer diagnosis before the age of 75. Quality screening programmes are essential to improve treatment outcomes and save lives.

Throughout 2024-2025, the European Cancer Organisation (ECO) worked alongside leading cancer experts and partner organisations to assess the current state of cancer screening across Europe.

This work has now culminated in the new report and policy action plan:

Next Level for Cancer Screening: From Commitments to Continued Action for Early Cancer Detection, released at the European Cancer Summit 2025.

 

The report draws on expert consultations, surveys capturing best practices, and real-life experiences from professionals and individuals involved in cancer screening, and peer-validated data analysis.

Through this participatory process, involving policymakers, healthcare professionals, patients, and NGOs, ECO identified several key insights:

• Despite strong EU frameworks, implementation of organised screening remains incomplete.
• Social inequalities persist, with access still influenced by income, education, and geography.
• New programmes for prostate, lung, and gastric cancers are progressing through EU-supported pilot initiatives.
• Innovative approaches, such as mobile screening units, self-collection kits, and culturally tailored communication, improve participation.