A Call to Action for Real Change

At Digestive Cancers Europe (DiCE), we have always placed patients at the heart of our mission—amplifying their voices, advocating for their needs, and striving to improve their access to care. But despite ongoing efforts, patient-centricity too often remains a checkbox rather than a driving force for change.

That’s why we are declaring 2025 as the Year of the Patient—a bold step to transform patient involvement from aspiration into action.

Why 2025? Because Words Are Not Enough

Real change happens when patients are truly heard, valued, and empowered—not just in name but in action. The Year of the Patient is a rallying cry for policymakers, healthcare providers, and industry leaders to embed patient perspectives into every level of cancer care, research, and decision-making.

Our Key Focus Areas for 2025

✅ Elevating Patient Voices Through Awareness
By strengthening our major awareness campaigns—including ECCAM, and awareness months for oesophageal, liver, gastric, and pancreatic cancers—we will highlight patient stories that inspire action and drive engagement.

✅ Championing Patient-Centered Policies
Building on the success of ENTERO2024, we will launch Policy Recommendations that ensure early-onset digestive cancer patients have a central role in shaping European and national healthcare policies.

✅ Embedding Patient Perspectives in Research & Innovation
We will work closely with academic and industry partners to increase patient-led input in clinical trials, drug development, and treatment pathways, ensuring treatments are truly aligned with patient needs.

✅ Amplifying Patient Narratives
Following the success of our publication “You’re Young, But It Might Be Cancer”, we will expand our storytelling initiatives, giving a voice to those impacted by early-age onset digestive cancers.

The Impact We Aim to Achieve

🔹 More patient representation in key policy and research discussions
🔹 Tangible policy changes that improve access and equity in cancer care
🔹 Stronger partnerships between patients and healthcare stakeholders
🔹 Sustainable frameworks for continued patient engagement beyond 2025

Join Us – Be Part of the Movement

Dedicating 2025 as the Year of the Patient is more than a symbolic gesture—it is a call to action. Patients are not just statistics. They are mothers, fathers, partners, children, and loved ones whose experiences must shape the future of cancer care.

Join us in making patient-centricity more than just a promise—let’s make it a reality.

Author:

Natasha Muench