Exciting news for the Childhood Cancer Community! SIOP Europe, in collaboration with IDIBELL (Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute), has published a paper with a focus on childhood cancer policies in The Lancet Regional Health – Europe:
"Do National Cancer Control Plans address care and research for children, adolescents, and young adults?"
The paper examines the National Cancer Control Plans (NCCPs) of 41 European countries, shedding light on how well these frameworks address the unique needs of children, adolescents, and young adults (CAYAs) with cancer.
The findings reveal significant progress but also gaps. While 22 NCCPs defined as active during the study period, included paediatric oncology content, only four of these plans adopted a comprehensive approach, addressing over 75% of key cancer control areas such as access to care, survivorship, and multidisciplinary team coordination. Notably, areas like supportive care and psycho-social services remain underrepresented.
The paper underscores the crucial role of aligning NCCPs with the European Beating Cancer Plan, with the aim of promoting equitable access to care and improving survival outcomes for young patients. The 2024–2029 EU policy term offers a unique opportunity to strengthen these frameworks and ensure every child with cancer benefits from integrated, high-quality care and research.
This is a call to action for policymakers, healthcare professionals, and advocates to prioritise paediatric oncology in cancer control strategies.
If you want to discover more, read the full version here and stay tuned for a digest with key messages!