ECPC President, Francesco de Lorenzo, spoke at the European Society of Surgical Oncology event Time for Change: Addressing the value of surgical oncology.

The event was hosted by Mr. Cristian Busoi, Member of Parliament, Chair of the Challenge Cancer Intergroup. Relevant stakeholders including EU policy makers and representatives from European cancer organisations, together with ESSO opinion leaders gathered to discuss the crucial role played by surgical oncology in cancer care to reduce the increasing cancer burden and to ensure a patient-centered care system in Europe.

De Lorenzo’s main takeaway on the meeting was that “[surgical oncology] is the first pillar of clinical oncology. Therefore, surgical oncology must be recognised as individual medical specialty.”

The ESSO policy event was endorsed by the EP Challenge Cancer Intergroup and the European Cancer Patient Coalition (ECPC).