For this year’s European Week Against Cancer, the European Cancer Patient Coalition (ECPC), European Parliamentary Intergroup “Challenge Cancer” and Cancer Complications and Comorbidities Initiative Members are organising several online events in form of webinars, taking place from the 25th to the 31st of May 2021, where various experts are invited to speak.
These webinars aim to present various issues surrounding Cancer Complications and Comorbidities, to ensure that Cancer complications and comorbidities are addressed in the implementation of the Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan, and to further pursue recognition of these comorbidities, increase awareness on relevant stakeholders and the public.
White Paper Launch: Tackling cancer-related complications and comorbidities
May 25th, 11:00-12:00 CET
Registration link: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_8QSWhzxJQj-NM1irKkgBRQ
The first in this series of webinars will focus on cancer-related complications and comorbidities, and will include the launch of a white paper. EFNA is part of the Steering Group for this topic.
Cancer-related complications and comorbidities add a highly significant burden on patients across Europe – and are in many cases fatal.
Research shows that most cancer patients, even up to almost 90% depending on the cancer type and age, report at least one comorbid condition. Patients with comorbidities are at increased risk of complications on anticancer treatments, which can have a detrimental impact on the efficacy of cancer management. On the other hand, both cancer and its treatments may impact on comorbidity outcomes. Therefore, it is crucial to alleviate the burden of cancer-related comorbidities and complications through a more systematic and routine risk assessment and management, which can reduce the burden of morbidity and mortality associated with complications and comorbidities.
Patients with comorbidities are less likely to receive anti-cancer treatment with curative intent while they have a lower life expectancy and experience an impaired quality of life.Furthermore, comorbidities are negatively associated with multiple indicators of quality of life.