A new report by Economist Impact, Advancing Breast Cancer Care in Europe: A Roadmap to a Women-Centric Approach, emphasizes the urgent need to tailor breast cancer care policies and practices to the specific needs of women. Sponsored by Daiichi-Sankyo Europe, the report evaluates the current landscape of breast cancer care across Europe, identifying key challenges and opportunities for improvement.
The Case for a Women-Centric Approach
With over 5.5 million breast cancer survivors in Europe, women with the disease are living longer than ever. However, they continue to face challenges that affect their quality of life, both during and after treatment. Despite being the primary demographic impacted—99% of breast cancer cases occur in women—their unique needs and preferences are often overlooked in both policy and practice.
The report underscores the necessity of adopting a women-centric approach that considers each woman’s physical, emotional, and cognitive needs, as well as her evolving life goals. Economist Impact’s assessment draws from insights gathered from more than 75 multidisciplinary experts, including many women with lived experience of breast cancer. These insights were collected through interviews and roundtable discussions conducted in Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the UK between May and December 2024.
Key Findings
The report’s assessment of breast cancer care across Europe’s five most populous countries—Germany, France, Italy, Spain, and the UK—reveals several critical gaps in achieving truly women-centered care:
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Persistent Disparities in Access: Women across Europe continue to face significant disparities in accessing timely and high-quality breast cancer care.
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Unmet Survivorship Needs: Issues related to survivorship are not adequately addressed in either the early or advanced stages of the disease.
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Policy Implementation Challenges: While policy progress has been made, significant challenges remain in translating these policies into effective practice.
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Need for Improved Public Health Messaging: Greater efforts in public awareness and resource allocation are essential to strengthen breast cancer prevention and early detection strategies.
A Call to Action
This comprehensive roadmap sets the stage for a shift in breast cancer care—one that prioritizes the voices, experiences, and needs of women. By addressing disparities in access, improving survivorship support, and ensuring that policy advances translate into tangible improvements in care, stakeholders across the healthcare ecosystem can drive meaningful change.