The Danish government is pushing for stronger cancer prevention measures and better follow-up care for patients after treatment in its new cancer plan, Euractiv reports.
The government is also exploring the use of innovative methods such as artificial intelligence and prehabilitation to combat the predicted 20% increase in cancer cases by 2040.
Cancer is no longer a death sentence, the Danish government said in its new cancer plan, “A Better Life with and after Cancer.” This is the country’s fifth plan since 2000.
“Although cancer treatment in Denmark has advanced significantly in recent years, cancer is still the disease that claims the most lives in Denmark,” the Minister of the Interior and Health, Sophie Løhde (Renew), said during a presentation last week.
“At the same time, many of those who are declared cancer-free or live longer with cancer have late effects. They experience pain, fatigue and fear of relapse. This affects the individual’s quality of life, and we need to be much better at addressing this. Cancer patients should not just survive a disease but be able to live a good life with and after cancer,” she added.
Clinics and funding
In Denmark, nearly 400,000 people live with some form of cancer, and the incidence rate is higher than the EU average.
Many of them are left with complications from the disease without receiving adequate care, the government acknowledged in its plan. To provide more help, it plans to open new “aftercare clinics,” which will be post-treatment support centres across the country.
The plan also proposes making more effective use of artificial intelligence (AI) and health data in cancer treatment.
To finance 36 new initiatives, the ruling coalition has pledged to allocate 600 million Danish kroner (about 80 million euros) annually starting this year, making this the largest cancer plan to date in terms of funding.
Preventable obstacles
Cancer incidence in Denmark is estimated to increase by 20 per cent from 2021 to 2044, mainly as people live longer.
However, as highlighted in the plan, up to 50% of all cancer cases can be prevented by reducing risks such as smoking, ultraviolet radiation, obesity, alcohol consumption and processed foods.
Despite declining smoking rates in Denmark, more and more young Danes are switching to e-cigarettes and other nicotine products. The government now plans to make tobacco products more difficult to access for people under the age of 18 by tightening age restrictions and illegal sales. According to Euractiv, Denmark will also ban children and teenagers from using tanning beds to reduce high rates of skin cancer.
Using AI
The government also intends to make more effective use of a model called prehabilitation. This involves helping patients prepare for treatment, for example through education and proper nutrition, which can improve treatment outcomes.
However, not all patients currently receive such support. Løhde proposes to make it more systematic. It is important that the patient’s right to treatment within two weeks will not be affected.
Medical researchers will also receive increased government funding to explore opportunities for more effective use of artificial intelligence in healthcare.
According to the plan, the possibility of screening the population for cancer risk will also be explored. Denmark currently conducts mass screening of the population for breast, cervical and colon cancer. Last year, a pilot project for lung cancer screening was also launched.
The Danish Cancer Society has welcomed the new plan.
“If the plan is implemented as suggested, it will significantly strengthen the fight against cancer. More cases can be found earlier, and patients can look forward to more personalised and gentle treatment,” the society stated.
