European Cancer Organisation focuses on the need for investment in screening and care

The European Cancer Organisation (ECO) has published a policy report summarising the main messages from the European Prostate Cancer Awareness Day (EPAD) event in September at the European Parliament.

The event, organised by Europa Uomo with the European Association of Urology (EAU), ECO and Global Action on Men’s Health, gathered leading experts, policymakers and patient advocates.  They explored how risk stratified prostate cancer screening, as being trialled in the PRAISE-U project, has the potential for transforming outcomes. They also asked how policymakers can reinvigorate European action against prostate cancer.

At the event, Vytenis Andriukaitis MEP, a former European Commissioner, called on European policymakers to secure dedicated funding to ensure that screening recommendations are fully implemented. “Initiatives like PRAISE-U are clear,” he said. “We need investment in more targeted screening that will lead to men living longer, happier and more productive lives and this is not an expense”.

From the patient perspective, ECO says the key policy takeaways were the need to:

• Ensure every man has access to organised, risk-based screening programmes across Europe
• Ensure smarter screening pathways which combine PSA, MRI and biopsies to detect cancers early while avoiding overtreatment of low-risk cases
• Prioritise patients’ quality of life, preserving dignity, reducing suffering and ensuring effective psychosocial support guided by shared decision-making.

The messages were reinforced this month at ECO’s European Cancer Summit 2025 in Brussels, where a spotlight session on improving men’s health and reducing prostate cancer highlighted the urgent need for stronger political commitment and investment in prostate cancer care across Europe.

Hein Van Poppel of the European Association of Urology, which is administering the PRAISE-U project, told attendees: “We will report on feasibility, cost-effectiveness and the way forward to the European Commission by the end 2026.”

Pictured: Vytenis Andriukaitis MEP (left) talks to Europa Uomo's Erik Briers (centre) at the EPAD event. Picture: European Cancer Organisation