Mission Early Call to Action for Better Early Cancer Care now published

The World Bladder Cancer Patient Coalition is pleased to share the publication of Mission Early’s Call to Action for Better Early Cancer Care, a global initiative calling for stronger policies to support early detection, diagnosis and treatment of cancer.

The Call to Action was initially launched in November 2025 during the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) World Cancer Leaders’ Summit in Melbourne. It was later brought to the European policy stage during a roundtable discussion titled “Beating Cancer Early: From Evidence to Action”, held at the European Parliament in Brussels on 19 March 2026.

This event, hosted by Members of the European Parliament Tomislav Sokol and Nicolás González Casares in collaboration with Mission Early, brought together leading stakeholders to discuss how to close the early cancer care gap in Europe and translate evidence into meaningful policy action at both European and national levels.

As a co-signatory of this Call to Action, the World Bladder Cancer Patient Coalition supports this collective effort to ensure that more people are diagnosed earlier and have access to timely and effective treatment.

Early cancer care plays a key role in improving outcomes. Evidence shows that patients diagnosed at an early stage have significantly higher chances of survival compared to those diagnosed later. Despite progress, important gaps remain in access to screening, diagnosis and treatment across countries.

The Call to Action outlines a series of recommendations for policymakers and health authorities, including:

• Integrating early cancer care into National Cancer Control Plans
• Expanding access to screening and early detection programmes
• Strengthening early diagnosis through updated clinical guidelines and improved data collection
• Ensuring timely access to treatment and multidisciplinary care

The European Parliament discussion also featured insights from newly completed research conducted by RAND Europe, commissioned by Mission Early, which explores the requirements for an effective policy framework to advance early cancer care.

Mission Early brings together organisations and experts committed to improving early cancer outcomes through policy development, knowledge sharing and advocacy.

As a co-signatory, the World Bladder Cancer Patient Coalition remains committed to advocating for earlier diagnosis and better care for people affected by bladder cancer and other cancers.

Readers are encouraged to explore the full Call to Action and learn more about the organisations involved in advancing early cancer care globally.