ALMIA asks the WHO to recognize June 10 as World Metastatic Cancer Day

The “Because we want time” campaign, supported by a dozen medical and scientific societies, calls for more research, equitable access to treatments, psychosocial support, and quality of life for people with the disease.

The organization 'Alliance Against Metastasis: Innovation and Support' (ALMIA) held the forum 'In Metastasis, Time Counts' this Wednesday, an event where its president, Pilar Fernández Pascual, presented the request to the World Health Organization (WHO) to recognize June 10th as World Metastatic Cancer Day. "We are doing this because we believe that metastasis needs visibility, its own agenda, and a sustained commitment," she stated at the event held in Madrid, which brought together various representatives from the sector to "analyze the remaining challenges in diagnosis, access to innovation, territorial equity, care coordination, research, care, training, and informed patient participation."

In a roundtable format, the first panel of this event, moderated by the director of the Health Observatory, Marta Riesgo, included, among others, the head of the Medical Oncology Service at the University Clinical Hospital of Salamanca, Dr. César Rodríguez Sánchez, and the head of the Pathological Anatomy Service at the Jiménez Díaz University Hospital Foundation in Madrid, Dr. Federico Rojo Todo.

In addition, the following individuals have spoken: Dr. Eva Carrasco, Scientific and General Director of the Spanish Breast Cancer Research Group (GEICAM); Gema González Monterrubio, Vice President of the Spanish Society of Oncological Nursing (SEEO); Dr. Javier Cortés, President of the Contigo Foundation; and Dr. Rafael López, President of the Spanish Association for Cancer Research (ASEICA).

They all highlighted "the advances in precision medicine, the role of pathology and biomarkers in decision-making, the need to accelerate translational and collaborative research, the participation of metastatic patients in clinical trials and registries, and the importance of ensuring care pathways capable of reducing times and inequalities in access to tests, treatments and specialized equipment."

The second discussion panel included Aída Fernández, a member of ALMIA; José Manuel Ramón y Cajal, Vice President of the Spanish Association Against Cancer (AECC); Santiago Gómez, Vice President of the National Association of Prostate Cancer (ANCAP); Charo Hierro, President of the Association of Women Affected by Ovarian and Gynecological Cancer (ASACO); and Francisco Rodríguez Lozano, President of the European Cancer Patients Association. They addressed the "social, employment, emotional, and informational needs" of cancer patients.

The third panel included contributions from Fernández Pascual; the Director General of the Common Portfolio of Services of the National Health System (SNS) and Pharmacy, César Hernández; the President of the Spanish Patients' Forum (FEP), Andoni Lorenzo; and the member of the WHO Public Health Advisory Council, Eduardo García-Toledano Mayoral.

The health sector advocates for organizing resources so that "the system responds"

"The challenge is not only to accelerate access to innovation, but to ensure the system flows smoothly so that anyone living in Spain can access, regardless of their healthcare provider, the best available resource for the care they need," Hernández stated, adding that it is necessary to "organize the portfolio, resources, referral centers, and coordination among professionals, so that the system responds more effectively to the patient's needs."

She also stated that the healthcare system "must be guided by the needs of the public, not just by the views of professionals or the administration." Patients "need their own space, structured representation, and the necessary resources to participate effectively in evaluation, decision-making, and governance processes," she said.

Following this, a new section featured the technical and strategic director of the 'ALMIA-OE360º' program, Ana Quiñones; Fernández Pascual; García-Toledano Mayoral; the head of the Translational Research Laboratory of the MD Anderson Cancer Center Spain Foundation, Gemma Moreno-Bueno; the head of the Medical Oncology Service of the San Carlos University Clinical Hospital of Madrid, Dr. Pedro Pérez Segura; and the scientific director of the Health Research Institute of this latter center (IdISSC), Dr. Julio Mayol.

These experts have analyzed "how to translate complex concepts of precision oncology, such as biomarkers, sequencing or liquid biopsy, in an understandable and useful way," as well as "the role of artificial intelligence (AI), clinical judgment and training programs in the relationship between information, understanding, adherence, deliberative communication and shared decision-making."

Finally, Celia García Menéndez, Director General of Humanization, Care, and Patient Safety at the Madrid Regional Government's Ministry of Health, stated that "talking about metastasis means talking about one of the main challenges in oncology today." Therefore, it is essential that scientific advances "reach the specific people who need them, in a timely manner and equitably," she concluded.

Source: Infosalus