Policy
An Introduction to Policy
Cancer care is a demanding yet rapidly evolving field, and it’s crucial for healthcare professionals, organizations and patients to have access to clear policies. touchONCOLOGY supports individuals, organizations and societies that advocate for impactful policy changes by fostering collaboration and consensus within the oncology community on key issues in cancer care. In partnership with the European Cancer Organisation, touchONCOLOGY has developed video content and brief articles to highlight important policy challenges in the field.
Our supporting partners do not constitute an endorsement of the content on this page.
With the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress 2026 fast approaching, attention is turning to Madrid, where the meeting is held from 23–27th October. Whether you are joining onsite or via the virtual platform, the three Presidential Symposia are the sessions not to miss. This year they carry 12 late-breaking abstracts (LBAs) spanning melanoma, lung, genitourinary, gastrointestinal, gynecological and rare cancers. With close to 300 scientific and educational sessions to choose from, we know the programme can feel overwhelming. So we have put together a quick guide to the headline sessions: when and where they run, who is presenting, and links to explore each one in the programme planner, so you can decide which to prioritize.
As EORTC enters a new chapter under the Presidency of Professor Benjamin Besse (Gustave Roussy Institute and Paris-Saclay University, Villejuif, France), the organization is looking to accelerate academic research while keeping patients and scientific independence at its core. In this detailed and in-depth Q&A, Prof Besse shares his priorities for EORTC, from supporting the next generation of investigators and broadening clinical trial populations, to giving greater weight to quality of life and patient perspectives. He also considers how emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, could reshape the way cancer research is conducted.
Dr Bishal Gyawali on curiosity, communication and global oncology: touchONCOLOGY Future Leaders 2026
In this Future Leaders interview, Dr Gyawali discusses how patient-centered care, evidence-based practice and mentorship have shaped his career, and why curiosity, resilience and purpose are essential for the next generation of oncologists.
In this Future Leaders interview, Dr Soniya Dulal discusses the global mentors who shaped her career, the importance of building sustainable oncology systems in Nepal and how precision medicine, palliative care and international collaboration can improve patient outcomes in resource-limited settings.
February has already been very busy across regulation, clinical research and community awareness - and we're only half way through! See below a round-up of the main breakthroughs and what to look out for during the rest of the month. ...
The newly released Lancet Commission on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a powerful wake-up call to the global health community. It highlights that more than 60% of liver cancer cases are preventable through action on hepatitis, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and alcohol use. Without intervention, HCC cases could double by 2050 – reaching over 1.5 million new cases annually and 1.37 million deaths.
In this interview, Prof Mark Lawler discusses the Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan key achievements, challenges and future directions.
World Cancer Day is a campaign run by the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC). It is observed annually on February 4th, and unites the world in the fight against cancer. The theme for 2025–27, "United by Unique", highlights the individual ...
In this interview, we are joined by President-Elect of the European Cancer Organisation (ECO), Dr Isabel Teresa Rubio (Head of Breast Surgical Oncology at Clínica Universidad de Navarra, Professor of Surgery at the University of Navarra, Spain). She discusses ...
7 January 2025, Brussels - The European Cancer Organisation (ECO) is pleased to announce the appointment of Elisabetta Zanon as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective 3 February. Elisabetta is a senior professional with more than 20 years of experience in European affairs, much ...
The PrEvCan – Cancer Prevention Across Europe – campaign, initiated by the European Oncology Nursing Society (EONS) and supported by ESMO, aims to reduce the burden of cancer by promoting a different way we can decrease cancer risk each month. This August, ...
The purpose of phase I clinical trials are to evaluate the safety, dosage and potential side effects of a new drug or treatment in humans for the first time. In this touchONCOLOGY interview, we speak with Dr Vivek Subbiah (University ...
Precision medicine aims to tailor medical treatments to individual patients based on their characteristics and genetic makeup. Phase I clinical trials are seeing changes in their objectives and designs in the era of precision medicine. In this touchONCOLOGY interview, we ...
This July, the PrEvCan campaign is dedicated to raising awareness about women's cancer risk in connection with breastfeeding and hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Initiated by the European Oncology Nursing Society (EONS), and with ESMO as a key campaign partner, the ...
The relationship between breastfeeding and a reduction in cancer risk is the focus of the PrEvCan Campaign, this July. Initiated by the European Oncology Nursing Society (EONS), and with ESMO as a key campaign partner, the PrEvCan – Cancer Prevention Across ...
The European Code Against Cancer (ECAC) recommends that if you drink alcohol of any type you should limit your intake and that not drinking alcohol is best for cancer prevention. This March, the PrEvCan campaign, spearheaded by EONS to promote ...
The European Society of Surgical Oncology (ESSO), along with other cancer-related European societies, supported the proposal for cross-multidisciplinary training in oncology at the EU level. It was a pleasure to talk with Prof. Pompiliu Piso (Hospital Barmherzige Brueder, Regensburg, Germany) ...
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