The experts made recommendations on how to improve screening programmes for breast, colorectal and cervical cancer, while also recommending their extension to lung and prostate cancer, and stressing that citizens' access to these programmes should be increased.
As Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakidou explained in a statement, "the key scientific advice will feed the most up-to-date scientific knowledge into the updating of the guidelines for cancer screening in the EU, which will deliver the best possible results for all European citizens".
The recommendations will be used in view of the Commission's proposal to update the 2003 Council Recommendation on cancer screening with the latest scientific evidence, and cover, among other areas where more research is needed.
"The European plan for fighting cancer places particular emphasis on research and innovation as a starting point for a new approach to cancer prevention, treatment and care", said Commissioner Kyriakidou, stressing that early diagnosis is a cornerstone of the EU strategy.
"Screening saves lives and with the Cancer Plan we will ensure that citizens across the EU can benefit from our future EU-supported cancer screening programme," she stressed.
In her own statement, Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth Commissioner Marija Gabrielle pointed out that "research and innovation improve our understanding of all phases of cancer and pave the way for improved diagnosis, treatment and care interventions".
The European Commission's team of expert scientific advisers, set up in 2016, has the role of providing independent scientific advice to the College of Commissioners, informing policy-making on more than a dozen topics.
They are seven eminent scientists appointed in their personal capacity, acting independently and in the public interest. These seven scientists are currently Nicole Grobert (Professor of Nanomaterials at Oxford University), Éva Kondorosi (Director of Research at the Institute of Plant Biology at the Centre of Excellence of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences), Maarja Kruusmaa (Professor of Biorobotics at Tallinn University of Technology), Eric F. Lambin (Professor of Geography and Sustainability Science at the Catholic University of Leuven and Stanford University), Alberto Melloni (Professor of the History of Christianity at the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia), Nebojsa Nakicenovic (Director of The World in 2050 Research Centre) and Eva Zažímalová (Professor of Plant Anatomy and member of the Institute of Experimental Botany at the Czech Academy of Sciences).
Source: CNA
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