Progress Made, But More Action Needed: João Breda’s Message at the ELLOK 2nd Synergies Forum on Cancer Care

At the 2nd Synergies Forum on Cancer Care, hosted by ELLOK, the Hellenic Cancer Federation, Dr. João Breda, Special Adviser to the WHO Regional Director for Noncommunicable Diseases and Head of the Athens WHO Office, delivered an urgent message: Greece is making commendable progress in cancer control, but critical gaps remain, especially in prevention.

Dr. Breda highlighted how the World Health Organization (WHO) is supporting Member States, including Greece, in developing and implementing comprehensive cancer control plans. However, he stressed, however, that the existence of a plan is not enough, implementation, enforcement, and cultural change are what truly save lives.

“Having an action plan is not the ultimate goal,” he said. “The ultimate goal is its effective implementation.”

Dr. Breda applauded recent achievements in Greece, particularly in cancer screening initiatives. The country has launched structured programs for cervical, breast, and colorectal cancer screening, aligned with WHO recommendations.

“This is a very important step,” he noted. “During my visit to Thessaloniki and surrounding rural areas, I saw impressive implementation efforts on the ground. Greece is clearly moving in the right direction.”

These screening programs are crucial for early detection, which significantly improves survival rates and reduces the burden of treatment on the healthcare system. Despite these advancements, Dr. Breda was direct in highlighting two major areas where Greece is falling behind: tobacco control and obesity. He referred to them as the “elephants in the room” that cannot be ignored if cancer prevention efforts are to succeed.

1. Smoking and Youth Vaping

Greece continues to struggle with high smoking rates and has recently seen the largest increase in youth vaping in the European Union, based on data from the Aspart study.

“The tobacco industry is everywhere, having a very strong power and promoting vaping all across Greece. You have to stop it,” Dr. Breda warned.

He also criticized the lack of enforcement of existing anti-smoking laws and urged citizens, policymakers, and communities to take collective responsibility.

2. Obesity: A Growing Public Health Challenge

The second emerging issue mentioned by Dr Breda was the obesity trends in the country.

“Obesity is a significant cancer risk factor, and Greece ranks second in Europe for childhood obesity. More than 60% of Greeks are overweight or already obese. Obesity is related with eight cancer. This is a very serious issue. It is very important to address” said Dr. João Breda.  

Dr. Breda concluded with a strong call to action: prevention cannot be treated as a secondary priority. While Greece has made strides in treatment and access to innovative therapies, without addressing root causes like smoking and obesity, progress will remain incomplete.

He described cancer control as a symphony, where every element, policy, enforcement, treatment, education, and individual responsibility, must work in harmony.

“You can throw all the money and resources you want at treatment, but without strong prevention, we’ll always be one step behind.”

“This is not just the responsibility of the Ministry of Health. It’s everyone’s responsibility, government, professionals, civil society, and citizens alike.”

About The 2nd Forum on Cancer Synergies by ELLOK

The 2nd Forum on Cancer Synergies – Policy, Research and Funding Strategies by ELLOK is taking place at Wyndham Grand Athens, from June 30 – July 1st, 2025.

The 2nd Forum on Cancer Synergies focuses on policy, research, and funding strategies to improve cancer care and outcomes. This event brings together policymakers, researchers, and healthcare professionals to discuss the latest developments in cancer research, share insights on funding opportunities, and explore collaborative strategies for tackling cancer. It aims to foster partnerships and drive progress in the fight against cancer through innovative policy and funding initiatives.