Dégi László Csaba, Chair of the European Cancer Community Foundation and Advisory Board Member at the Hungarian Psycho-Oncology Society (MPOT), shared on LinkedIn:
“Genomic testing could transform cancer care – but only for those who can access it.
Proud to share our new peer-reviewed paper in BMJ Oncology: ‘Aligning awareness, systems and policy to increase equitable access to genomically driven cancer care,’ co-authored with an international, multidisciplinary team that includes two patient and public involvement partners as full co-authors.
Genomic profiling can sharpen diagnosis, match patients to targeted therapies, and track treatment response and resistance. But its benefits remain unevenly realized. We reviewed the evidence across five themes:
- patient advocacy,
- shared decision-making,
- culturally responsive communication,
- structural and personal barriers,
- and the political economy of health.
One number that stayed with me: in a survey of 566 breast cancer patients eligible for genomic testing across five European countries, only 21.6% had even been informed of their eligibility.
Awareness alone won’t close that gap. It takes workforce capacity, harmonized reimbursement and trust built through culturally grounded communication.
That’s why we propose a four-stage pathway: Awareness → Trust → Access → Equity.
Grateful to colleagues across the UK, Brazil, Peru, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway and the US for bringing such a rich range of perspectives – including lived patient experience – to this work.
Open access, link below. We’d welcome thoughts from colleagues implementing genomic medicine across different health systems.”
Title: Aligning awareness, systems and policy to increase equitable access to genomically driven cancer care
Authors: Kelly Kohut, Joshua Asaad Kuti, Sandra Balladares, Nicola Reents, Raza Sayyed, Benedito Mauro Rossi, Janina Balazar-Palacios, Bami Adenipekun, Nicolò Matteo Luca Battisti, Csaba László Dégi, Mev Dominguez-Valentin
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