On June 17, Warsaw became the venue for an important discussion on the future of European oncology. During the EU Cancer Mission conference, organized as part of the Polish Presidency of the EU Council, experts from all over Europe met to discuss how to effectively prevent cancer, diagnose it at an early stage and – equally important – how to support the quality of life of people living with cancer and after its completion.
The panelists included outstanding specialists in oncology, public health, scientific research and health policy. Our CEO, Maja Surowicz, took part in the session entitled Quality of Life, Palliative Care, and Survivorship – together with prof. Augusto Caraceni, dr. hab. Thomas Nørrelykke Nissen and Ewa Maciejewska from the Amazon Federation. The conversation concerned, among others, the need to integrate various forms of support – from medical, through psychological and rehabilitation, to social and professional – so that the patient is not left alone with the challenges of life after diagnosis.
The conference also included sessions on prevention and screening, digitalization and technological innovation, as well as the role of public policies in equalizing access to oncological care in European Union countries. Although we differ in the experiences of local health systems, we share a common vision – comprehensive, accessible and empathetic care.
We return with the feeling that interdisciplinary cooperation – connecting doctors, psychologists, physiotherapists, dieticians, social workers and decision-makers – is essential if we want to talk about a real improvement in the quality of life of people affected by cancer. Oncology is not only about treatment – it is also a relationship, a support system and accompanying a person at all stages of recovery.
