Cancer screening, diagnosis and care

The European Commission Initiatives on Cancer develop up-to-date, evidence-based guidelines for primary prevention, screening and diagnosis, as well as voluntary quality assurance schemes for cancer care services covering the entire care pathway.

In December 2022, following the EC's proposal to strengthen cancer prevention through early detection, the Council of the EU has adopted a new approach on cancer screening. In addition to cancer screening for breast, colorectal and cervical cancer, the new Council recommendation suggests screening for lung, prostate, and under certain conditions, gastric cancer.

Thus, the European guidelines and quality assurance schemes are given centre-stage as instruments to ensure high standards for screening and quality assurance to be implemented in Europe.

The main features of the EC’s initiatives on cancer are listed below.

• Internationally recognised methodology that also provides full transparency and traceability.
• Multidisciplinary panel of experts including physicians, epidemiologists, researchers, and patient representatives.
• European guidelines and quality assurance schemes implementable across Europe.
• Regularly updated and open for the public/scientific community’s feedback.
• Tailored for healthcare professionals and policy makers with particular attention being paid to patients’ needs.

By providing essential levels of quality care that are equally accessible across Europe, the EC initiatives on cancer aim to reduce the inequalities in screening and care, as shown by the European Cancer Inequalities Registry.

Radiation protection and related issues

In this context, worth to point to other activities undertaken, in this case by the European Commission (DG ENER), which has issued publications on radiation protection since 1976. The radiation protection publications give an insight on medical radiation exposure, radiological equipment, diagnostic reference levels, cancer risk modelling, environmental radioactivity and recommendations for monitoring individuals occupationally exposed to external radiation. Moreover, annual seminars are organised on radiation protection and related issues.

Ongoing and future challenges

• Implementation the European QA Schemes by cancer services after validation.
• Training healthcare professionals and policy makers to facilitate implementation of the guidelines and QA schemes.