Ahmed Shama, Oncology Consultant at Specialized Universal Network of Oncology and Lecturer of Clinical Oncology at Kafr El-Sheikh University, shared on LinkedIn:
“ESMO Congress 2026 Madrid: Science, Resilience, and Gratitude
First and foremost, all thanks and gratitude to God for allowing me to be in Madrid for ESMO 2026. After missing last year’s congress, returning this year felt especially meaningful, and I came back with lessons that go well beyond the slides.
Your health is your priority. My first personal takeaway: our physical and mental well-being must never be neglected. Early mornings, mini posters, and new inspiration. Each day started early: an alarm before sunrise, a morning run, a quick breakfast, then straight to the early mini-oral and poster sessions. For an oncologist practising in a developing country, these often-overlooked sessions are a real source of fresh ideas and practical inspiration for everyday practice.
Highlights worth exploring:
- B-STRONGER-I (early triple-negative breast cancer)
- PACE-LUNG (EGFR-mutated NSCLC)
- PATHFINDER 2 (multi-cancer early detection)
- AGO-OVAR 27 (high-grade ovarian cancer)
Bringing the latest evidence home. I return with fresh insights and look forward to discussing the most relevant updates with our oncology colleagues.
Key studies across major tumour types include:
- Breast Cancer: NATALEE (updated long-term outcomes), HORIZON-Breast06, APEX-Breast01, PANKU-Breast01, KEYNOTE-B49, OptiTROP-Breast01, TALENT
- Lung Cancer: SAFFRON, DeLLphi-305, OptiTROP-Lung06, OptiTROP-Lung04, and Krascendo1 divarasib versus sotorasib/adagrasib in KRAS G12C-mutated NSCLC
- Gynaecological Cancers: TroFuse-005, KEYNOTE-C93, REJOICE-Ovarian01, NRG-GY020
- Melanoma: INTerpath-001, a landmark step for individualised mRNA-based neoantigen therapy combined with pembrolizumab in the adjuvant setting
Each of these studies raises important questions about treatment selection, sequencing, survival, toxicity, and the evolving role of novel therapies, and especially about how we translate them to our own patients and healthcare settings.
Madrid: a beautiful reminder to pause. Amid the intense scientific programme, Madrid offered its own inspiration: beautiful streets, striking architecture, and a vibrant atmosphere. A highlight was visiting the Temple of Debod, an ancient Egyptian temple gifted to Spain. Standing there as an Egyptian, far from home, was a moving reminder of the bonds between our two cultures.
The people behind the science matter. One of the greatest privileges of international congresses is reconnecting with friends, meeting colleagues from different backgrounds, and learning from one another.
Because progress in oncology is not only about discovering what comes next. It is about bringing the right knowledge, compassion, and perspective to every patient we care for.”
You can also read: 25 Posts Not to Miss from ESMO Congress 2026: Day 5
