From the President: Collaborating Far and Wide for Better Cancer Care

The European Cancer Organisation (ECO) is, at its core, all about building bridges: bringing together like-minded societies to fight a merciless disease.

That was on my mind in Dublin recently as we attended the first Joint Euro-American Forum on Cancer. This summit, more than a year in the making, included leaders from ECO, the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), government ministers, policymakers, diplomats, and many others.

I found those three days of talks, especially with ASCO President Lynn Schuchter, MD, and Chief Medical Officer Julie Gralow, MD, to be particularly gratifying. Our two organisations are collaborating ever more closely to enhance cancer care on both continents.

This alliance began during the pandemic when we were both searching for ways to address the vast disruptions to cancer care caused by covid-19. Then we joined forces again to help cancer patients in Ukraine get desperately needed medical treatments following Russia's invasion.

Throughout, I've been greatly impressed by ASCO's approach to building a real partnership with us. They've taken the time to understand ECO -– the common challenges we face and the approaches we take.  

For example, we share the burden of inequalities in cancer care. In Europe, it's mostly geographically based inequalities. In America, it's more population based.

Our societies are both focused on the paramount role of the patient, whether it be patient-centred care, patient-centred solutions, or patient-centred policy. It's something we discussed a lot because patients are the end users of everything we do. They are the ones who decide what is acceptable and what is not.

We also share an expanding workforce crisis in healthcare and how best to address professional burnout and the growing tide of resignations. In addition, we are pursuing similar advocacy work and grappling with many of the same psychosocial issues in cancer care.

These various discussions will resume and expand in the coming days as we now head to Chicago for ASCO's Annual Meeting. There, we will be joined by leaders of the Clinical Oncology Society of Australia (COSA) with whom we're also forging new bonds. In addition, we have been meeting recently with Chinese and Latin American cancer societies to explore other new opportunities to cooperate.

It could not be more starkly apparent: if we don't build international collaboration to fight our common enemy, we will be left to flounder in geographical silos, professional silos, treatment silos, accreditation silos, etc.

If you're in Australia, for example, you may discover more efficient ways to accredit new treatments, employ better screening techniques, or apply new technologies. We owe it to patients everywhere to learn from each other so that we can apply more effective approaches to cancer care as quickly as possible. We must not waste time and effort.

By building bridges and working together, we keep patient needs foremost in our sights – where they belong.  

With gratitude and warm wishes,

Csaba

Prof. Csaba Dégi