The week of 25–31 marks the 2026 European Week Against Cancer (EWAC)
The EWAC is a flagship initiative from the Association of European Cancer Leagues (ECL), bringing together cancer leagues, health advocates, civil society groups, and policymakers to raise awareness about the importance of cancer prevention and care.
Cancer-related pain is one of the most prevalent chronic pain conditions. It can arise from multiple sources, including the tumour itself; inflammation or damage to bones, organs, and nerves caused by metastases; as well as the side effects of treatments such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
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- Pain in cancer patients. Pain is the most common symptom of cancer at diagnosis and rises in prevalence throughout and beyond cancer treatment. Current estimates indicate that at least 66% of adults with advanced or progressive cancer experience significant pain.
- Pain in cancer survivors. Even after treatment, many survivors continue to experience both physical and psychological effects associated with pain, including cardiopulmonary complications, fatigue, neuropathy, reduced physical functioning, depression, and anxiety. Approximately 55% of cancer survivors report moderate to severe pain, while 30–40% suffer from chronic pain.
Evidence from meta‐analyses suggests that pain remains poorly controlled for a large proportion of cancer patients; barriers to good management include poor assessment of pain and inadequate support for patient self‐management, among others. Improving cancer pain management should therefore be considered as a public health priority within
To reduce the profound impact of poorly controlled pain on quality of life, physical functioning, and mental health, improving cancer pain management should be recognised as a public health priority embedded within cancer policy frameworks.
Read more about cancer pain policy here.