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Health care industry

Cancer Treatment Awareness Gap Exposed in Europe

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Cancer specialists and patient groups are sounding the alarm about a significant information gap between patients and physicians regarding new advances in cancer treatment. A recent survey conducted across the UK, France, Spain, Italy, and Germany reveals that nearly 90% of patients battling cancer in Europe have never heard of anti-angiogenesis, a major breakthrough in cancer treatment. Meanwhile, 70% of cancer specialists believe that patients and their carers should be better informed about this new therapy, which has shown significant potential in treating various types of cancer, including colorectal, breast, and non-small cell lung cancer.

Key Takeaways:

  • Nearly 90% of patients battling cancer in Europe are unaware of anti-angiogenesis, a major breakthrough in cancer treatment that works by starving the tumor of its blood supply.
  • 70% of cancer specialists believe that patients and their carers should be better informed about anti-angiogenic treatment as it marks the dawn of a new era in cancer treatment.
  • Half of cancer specialists surveyed believe that the use of anti-angiogenic therapy could lead to cancer becoming a treatable illness people can live with, rather than the death sentence it often is.
  • Patient awareness of new cancer treatments is low, with only 12% of patients feeling confident that their treatment would enable them to overcome their disease when first diagnosed.
  • 60% of patients expect advances in treatment to transform cancer from an acute to a chronic condition within the next three to five years.
  • A majority of physician respondents (82%) firmly believe that anti-angiogenic therapy could be effective in the adjuvant setting, but realizing this expectation depends on patient access to new therapies.
  • The survey also highlighted that a majority of cancer specialists believe that access to new cancer therapies should be widened, particularly in light of physician and patient dissatisfaction with traditional chemotherapy agents.

Statistics:

  • 9 out 10 patients battling cancer in Europe have never heard of anti-angiogenesis.
  • 70% of cancer specialists believe that patients and their carers should be better informed about anti-angiogenic treatment.
  • Only 12% of patients feel confident that their treatment will enable them to overcome their disease when first diagnosed.
  • 60% of patients expect advances in treatment to transform cancer from an acute to a chronic condition within the next three to five years.
  • 82% of physician respondents believe that anti-angiogenic therapy could be effective in the adjuvant setting.

Sources:

  • PRNewswire-AsiaNet: "Knowledge Gap of Concern to Both Physicians and Patient Groups"
  • Karolinska Institutet report: "A pan-European comparison regarding patient access to cancer drugs"
  • Survey conducted amongst 500 cancer specialists and patients in the UK, France, Spain, Italy, and Germany.

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