On 24 April, DiCE hosted a high-level policy event at the European Parliament, Addressing Gaps in Awareness, Care & Support for the Early-Onset Digestive Cancer Community—a powerful call to action on the rising incidence of these cancers in people under 50.

Co-hosted by MEPs Romana Jerković and Vytenis Andriukaitis, with closing remarks by MEP Aurelijus Veryga, the meeting brought together young patients, caregivers, experts, and policymakers. The agenda highlighted insights from ENTERO2024 Conference held in Porto, Nov.14-15, urging greater awareness, research, and support for colorectal, gastric, pancreatic, oesophageal, and liver cancers in younger adults.

A Call to Integrate Early-Onset Cancers into EU Policies

In her opening remarks, MEP Jerković stressed the need to integrate early-onset cancers into existing cancer policies by adjusting screening guidelines, investing in innovation, and ensuring comprehensive and compassionate care. She underlined that health is not a cost but an investment in Europe’s economic and social resilience. She also voiced strong support for the full implementation of the “Right to Be Forgotten” for cancer survivors across the EU.

MEP Andriukaitis emphasized that targeted prevention strategies based on emerging research must be a priority and called for sustained political attention on cancer prevention, especially in the context of the European Health Data Space and wider health policy frameworks.

The Human Face of Early-Onset Cancers

Patient advocates Mila Ogala Toledo (Spain), Natalia Ramirez Montigny (France/UK), and Anita Wojtaś-Jakubowska (Poland) gave powerful testimonies about their journeys through diagnosis and treatment. Their stories highlighted the devastating impact of delayed diagnoses, the gaps in clinical trial access, the emotional burden, and the urgent need for more tailored and compassionate care for young people facing digestive cancers.

Bridging the Awareness and Research Gaps

Dr. Emily Harrold (Ireland) presented stark evidence from major surveys showing that a significant number of young patients experience delayed diagnoses, often requiring multiple visits to physicians and frequently being diagnosed at advanced stages when survival chances diminish.

Dr. Gianluca Mauri (Italy) and Dr. Karl Smith-Byrne (UK) discussed emerging scientific findings, including potential drivers such as lifestyle factors, environmental exposures, genetic susceptibility, and microbiome changes. They called for greater investment in prevention research, new models for early screening, and the development of non-invasive detection technologies tailored to younger populations.

Prof. Eric Van Cutsem (Belgium) stressed the importance of expanding access to clinical trials and treatments specifically designed for early-onset digestive cancer patients, recognizing their unique biological and psychosocial needs.

Holistic Care and the Right to Psychological Support

The event underscored that addressing early-onset cancers must go beyond treating the disease itself. Dr. Luzia Travado (Portugal) passionately argued for embedding psycho-oncology into every cancer care pathway, as psychological support is fundamental to recovery and quality of life. She called it a human right that should be universally accessible, a view echoed by MEP Veryga in his closing remarks.

Clear Messages for Europe

In her closing remarks, DiCE CEO Zorana Maravic summarized the urgent priorities: enhancing awareness and early detection, supporting innovative research, ensuring access to tailored treatments, and embedding holistic support into cancer care.

She urged policymakers to prioritize young-onset digestive cancers in national and European cancer policies, encouraged researchers to intensify efforts to uncover the causes and solutions to this growing trend, and called on patient advocates to continue raising their voices to ensure that no young person faces cancer alone.

MEP Veryga’s closing intervention reaffirmed that psycho-oncological support must be recognized as an essential pillar of comprehensive cancer care and fully integrated into European cancer strategies.

Moving Forward

The ENTERO policy meeting made it clear: without urgent action, early-onset digestive cancers will continue to rise with devastating impacts. Europe must act decisively to close gaps in awareness, prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and support.

Takeaway: There’s clear momentum for change at the EU level—and DiCE will continue to push for action.

📄 Read the full policy brief here

Authors:

Ivan Ratkovic

Natasha Muench