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Denis Horgan: Celebrating women driving breakthroughs

Denis Horgan/ecancer.org

Feb 12, 2025, 16:36

Denis Horgan: Celebrating women driving breakthroughs

Denis Horgan, Chair of ICGC ARGO Independent Advisory Committee at International Cancer Genome Consortium, shared a post on LinkedIn:

“‘Her Health, Our Future: Bridging Europe’s Cancer Care Gap with Equity and Innovation’

Brussels, February 11th, 2025: On International Day Of Women In Science, we celebrate women driving breakthroughs – but progress falters when access to care remains unequal. A stark EC-OECD report reveals how geography, gender, and poverty collide to deny women lifesaving cancer care. Let’s spotlight critical gaps and solutions:

Where the Divide Deepens:
Breast Cancer: Survival rates in Eastern Europe lag 15-20% behind Western nations due to unequal mammography access. Rural women face 3x longer wait times for diagnostics.

Lung Cancer: Often labeled a ‘male disease,’ women face delayed diagnoses (symptoms like persistent coughs are dismissed). Mortality rates in – Central/Eastern Europe are rising 2x faster for women than men.
Cervical Cancer: Preventable yet deadly – 40% of EU women in low-income regions miss HPV screenings, leading to late-stage detection.
Poverty and Prejudice: Financial barriers and gender bias mean women often endure symptoms silently until it’s too late.

Science-Driven Solutions to Prioritize NOW:

Boost Early Detection Everywhere:
Fund mobile mammography units and HPV self-testing for rural/remote areas.
Deploy AI tools to improve diagnostic accuracy in overburdened clinics.
Close the Lung Cancer Gender Gap:
Train providers to recognize female-specific symptoms (e.g., non-smoking-related risks).
Invest in research on hormonal or environmental triggers in women.
Break the Stigma, Speed Up Care:
Public campaigns to destigmatize lung cancer and empower women to seek help early. Subsidize genetic testing for high-risk breast cancer mutations (e.g., BRCA) in underserved communities.
EU-Wide Equity Standards:
Legislate equal access timelines for diagnostics (e.g., biopsies ≤ 2 weeks).
Integrate marginalized women (migrants, Roma communities) into screening programs.

Women in Science Leading the Charge:

Fund female researchers tackling gender-blind clinical trials and AI bias in diagnostics.
Elevate female oncologists and public health experts shaping EU cancer policy.
Every delayed diagnosis deepens inequality. Let’s match today’s scientific ambition with action to ensure no woman’s survival depends on her ZIP code.

Demand Action: Push leaders to fund gender-responsive care and early-detection tech. Share to turn urgency into progress!”