Cancer treatments have made remarkable progress in recent years. For many types of cancer, the pharmaceutical industry is on a continuum between chronification and cure. Nevertheless, there is still a huge medical need that must be addressed
Tackling the global burden of cancer
C ancer is one of the biggest medical and more than 19 million new cases. Globally, one in six deaths is caused by cancer, 1 and the burden of cancer increases in ageing societies. In Europe, the number of lives lost to cancer is expected to rise by more than 24% between 2020 and 2035, making cancer the leading disease-related cause of death. 2 In addition, the Covid-19 pandemic, lockdown restrictions and the overall disruption to daily life resulted in the cancellation of medical examinations and early detection screenings. As a result, more patients are diagnosed at an advanced disease stage, which often means a reduced chance for curative treatment. 3 This is particularly noticeable in breast cancer, the world’s most prevalent cancer type, with more than two million new cases diagnosed worldwide yearly and more than 500,000 in Europe alone. 4 It is estimated that one in seven women in the EU will develop breast cancer before the age of 74. 5 challenges worldwide. When we look at the mortality and number of cases, the global significance becomes even clearer. In 2020, there were almost 10 million cancer deaths Early detection of breast cancer can increase the chances of successful treatment and survival. It also means that treatments may be less aggressive and have fewer side effects. 6 European data in pre-Covid Europe show that early detection programmes prevent more than 20,000 breast cancer deaths every year. 7 In recent years, we have seen remarkable medical
By Markus Kosch, head of oncology, Europe and Canada, Daiichi Sankyo
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Health: A Political Choice – From Fragmentation to Integration
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