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European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HaDEA)
  • News article
  • 30 May 2022
  • European Health and Digital Executive Agency
  • 3 min read

European Week Against Cancer comes to an end: ensuring better quality of life for patients and survivors

ewac22 - patients
© European Union 2022. All rights reserved.

As the European Week Against Cancer (EWAC) is almost coming to an end, let’s take a look at today’s theme: cancer patients and survivors.

This theme is at the centre of Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan. The plan’s dedicated pillar ‘Improve quality of life of cancer patients and survivors’ includes the rehabilitation, potential tumour recurrence, metastatic disease, and measures to support social integration and re-integration in the workplace.

Similarly, The EU Cancer Mission gives distinct focus to its fourth objective ‘Quality of life for patients and their families’.

Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan joins efforts with the EU Mission on Cancer to provide a better understanding of cancer, allow for earlier diagnosis, optimise treatment, and improve patients’ quality of life during and beyond their cancer treatment.

HaDEA is currently managing a number of projects under the programmes EU4Health and Horizon Europe health research (Cluster 1). Both programmes actively contribute to Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan and the EU Cancer Mission.

 

EU4Health Programme

The 2021 and 2022 EU4Health Annual Work programmes fund several actions on cancer including calls on improving the quality of life of cancer patients and survivors.

Operating grants

Operating grants provide general financial support to organisations whose activities serve the strategic objectives of EU policies. A number of organisations have been awarded an operating grant under the EU4Health Programme.

The Association of European Cancer Leagues (ECL) has been strengthening advocacy in cancer control. The organisation unites, supports, and represents cancer leagues across Europe.

Childhood Cancer International – Europe (CCI) has been empowering patient advocates to convey their urgent needs and speak for their community to effectively contribute to cancer-related policy initiatives.

European Reference Networks (ERNs)

ERNs are specialised in the diagnosis and treatment of rare and very rare illnesses in almost all fields of medicine, including rare cancer.

Most recently, in light of the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine, the 24 ERNs have launched the initiative #ERNcare4Ua, a hub for patients suffering from rare diseases inside and outside Ukraine. In particular, the European Reference Network on adult cancers (EURACAN) is helping Ukrainian patients with rare cancers by connecting them with expert health care centres across Europe.

Call for tenders

HaDEA recently closed a call for tenders, with the aim to design, develop, test and deliver the web IT tool of the prototype version of the ‘Cancer Survivor Smart Card’, to improve the quality of life of cancer survivors. The product will be open to cancer survivors and will allow them to safely share their health data with their carers.

 

 Horizon Europe Cluster 1 ‘Health’

HaDEA has launched a Cancer Mission call for proposals to create a virtual European Cancer Patient Digital Centre (ECPDC). The ECPDC will allow the voluntary exchange of patients and survivors’ health data within a network of patient-controlled health data infrastructures.

Horizon 2020 funded research projects

FORTEe project

The project is developing a personalised and standardised exercise plan for children and adolescents who are undergoing anti-cancer treatment.

PanCareFollowUp

The project aims to bridge the gap between the clinical guidelines on follow-up care for survivors of childhood cancer and how healthcare professionals can put these into practice. It does so by developing a new standard of regular screening and a person-centred lifestyle programme.

 

Background

Since 2003, the first, second and third health programmes have implemented the EU health strategy. The EU4Health programme is the latest and largest one to date in monetary terms, with a budget of €5.3 billion in current prices. EU4Health provides funding to national authorities, health organisations and other bodies through grants and public procurement, contributing to a healthier Europe.

Horizon Europe is the research and innovation programme of the EU for the period 2021-2027. The aims of Cluster 1: Health, include improving and protecting the health and well-being of citizens of all ages by generating new knowledge, developing innovative solutions and integrating where relevant a gender perspective to prevent, diagnose, monitor, treat and cure diseases.

Relevant links

More from the series:

European Week Against Cancer kick-off: early detection saves lives

European Week Against Cancer continues: focus on researching effective treatments

EU Cancer policy

European Health Union

ERN Collaborative Platform

 

Details

Publication date
30 May 2022
Author
European Health and Digital Executive Agency
Programme Sector
  • Health
Programme
  • EU4Health
  • Horizon Europe
  • Horizon Europe Cluster 1: Health
Tags
  • EUCancerPlan
  • EUFunded
  • HealthUnion
  • Medical research
  • Public health