IN two days, the European Union will have its strategic plan against cancer, shared by all Member States, to improve prevention, early diagnosis, care and quality of life for patients and former patients. In fact, on Tuesday 15 the European Parliament will discuss the guidelines of the Beating Cancer Plan, drawn up by the Special Committee on Beating Cancer (Beca) and will vote whether or not to accept the proposed amendments, while the voting of the final text will take place on Wednesday 16 (here is the link to follow the live broadcasts). Based on the recommendations that will come out of it (which have no legislative value), the European Commission will issue regulatory directives in the near future which, once approved by Parliament, will bind – this time yes – the Member States.
The text under discussion in parliament
The report that will be discussed and approved (“Report on strengthening Europe in the fight against cancer – towards a comprehensive and coordinated strategy“) Therefore represents the first effective grounding of the European Plan for the fight against cancer, which relies on both the funding allocated by the EU 4 billion euros and on other funds: from EU4Health to the Horizon Europe and Digital Europe programs, passing through the Recovery Plans of the individual States. Beca’s work focused on some points in particular: guaranteeing equal access to care, especially innovative; enhance screening for early diagnosis; limit occupational exposure to hazardous chemicals and endocrine disruptors; implement specific strategies for childhood cancers and for the treatment of elderly patients; support the right to be forgotten, spread palliative care.
Cancer, right to be forgotten 10 years after treatment
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Alcohol as a risk factor: what the guidelines provide
In these hours, however, attention is focused above all on the large chapter dedicated to prevention, and in particular on the consumption of alcohol as a risk factor for cancer, a topic that in recent months has been at the center of some controversies and concerns. by representatives of the beverage market. “Approximately three million cases of cancer occur in Europe each year and the number is set to increase. Yet we know that about 40% of these cases would be preventable with attention to prevention, environmental factors and lifestyles “, he explains to Salute Alessandra Moretti, MEP of the Democratic Party: “It is an extremely significant percentage, which is why the commitment to combat risk factors and carcinogenic substances has been very strong. Alcohol is considered the second most important risk factor after smoking: the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has included it among the substances that are certainly carcinogenic for humans since 1988 and consumption in 2018. alcohol has been linked to over 180,000 cancer cases in Europe (10% of all cancers in men and 3% in women, ed.). We do not want to prohibit anything, but to speak with scientific evidence to increase consumer awareness: for this reason we have included the concept of proportionality of risk in the Cancer Plan: the lower consumption, the lower the risk. Furthermore, there will be no Nutri Score proposed by France and no black stamp will be introduced on our wines, excellence to be protected. Furthermore, we were able to include the Mediterranean diet as a pillar for a correct and healthy diet, which as we know involves a glass of wine at the table “.
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In short, the guidelines do not provide “alerts” for health on products that contain alcohol (such as those we are now used to seeing on tobacco packs and cigarette packets), but one of the objectives is the reduction of at least 10 % of the harmful use of alcohol by 2025. “Beyond the instrumental controversies – continues Moretti – I think it is important to bring out the positive message: the fact that for the first time we have common, shared and clear indications for a specific strategy against cancer, which risks becoming a real health emergency in the coming years. Uniform labeling throughout the EU is necessary, but with the purpose of informing and not conditioning ”.
Cancer, alcohol associated with over 740,000 cases a year
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“The Beca report is an important text, which aims to improve prevention policies to raise awareness among citizens”, he comments in a press release Francesco Cognetti, president of Foce (the Confederation of oncologists, cardiologists and hematologists): “Alcohol represents a known risk factor, but still too many people, especially young people, abuse it. There are no safe levels of alcohol consumption: even low alcohol can cause cancer, particularly of the oral cavity, liver and breast. It is urgent to raise the awareness of people and political decision makers ”. Other Italian patient associations, particularly active in the field of breast cancer, have given their full support to the recommendations.
Breast cancer and alcohol: here’s what you need to know
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Access to drugs: the path of the alliance between public and private
The text also talks about European pharmaceutical strategy: “There are very expensive drugs that are often inaccessible”, concludes Moretti: “The great work we are doing with pharmaceutical companies aims to ensure that States contribute to research with a view to then obtain controlled prices. The future and the quality of public health systems depend on this collaboration. It is an ethical question: closer collaboration between public and private sectors can lead to lower costs and more transparent processes. And also to greater investments in research and, consequently, to greater professional opportunities for our researchers “.
Heart door
Beware of alcohol, they are (also) bad for the heart
at Federico Mereta
