Keynote comment: Inequalities and shortcomings in European cancer care

摘要

In 2004, an estimated 2 886800 new cases of cancer and 1711000 deaths were reported in Europe.1 The number of individuals affected will increase rapidly because the European population is aging, even if the number of age-specific cancers remains constant. Thousands of these cancers could have been prevented, and many others cured, if optimum cancer prevention and cancer care had been implemented. The situation is of particular concern for eastern European countries that have recently joined the European Union. 5-year cancer survival varies between 57% and 28% in individual western and eastern European countries,3 showing important inequalities in cancer diagnosis, treatment, and outcome of cancer treatment in Europe.