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Anniina Hentinen (LuCE) - Profile on Lung Cancer Awareness Month
Lung Cancer Europe (LuCE) is the voice of people living with lung cancer and their families at a European level. LuCE is a partner in IDERHA and for Lung Cancer Awareness Month we spoke to Anniina Hentinen. She works as a EU Project Manager at LuCE and she explains why Lung Cancer Awareness Month is so important.
As we enter Lung Cancer Awareness Month this November, it’s essential to recognize the transformative potential of data in lung cancer care. Lung cancer represents 12% of new cancer cases and causes 20% of cancer deaths in the EU, underscoring the urgent need for earlier diagnosis and personalized treatment. IDERHA directly addresses this by advancing data efficiency, paving the way for timely, individualized care.
In my role as EU Project Manager at Lung Cancer Europe, I contribute to IDERHA’s WP6 and WP7 teams, bringing a background in political science and EU health policy. Previously, I worked on EU health policy with a doctors' organization in Brussels, which reinforced my dedication to addressing health inequalities and promoting accessible healthcare systems. Having worked before closely with the healthcare professionals on EU health policies I’ve seen the value of also amplifying the patient voice in EU policies and projects like IDERHA. Many European countries are currently facing challenges in maintaining resilient healthcare systems, highlighting the critical need to advocate for "health for all". Promoting universal, equitable access to healthcare remains essential to support sustainable health systems across the EU.
Data holds great possibilities for better patient care, from enabling early diagnosis to supporting personalized treatments, but secondary data use also carries a profound responsibility. The European Health Data Space (EHDS) aims to establish responsible, secure standards for secondary health data use, aligning with IDERHA’s commitment to empowering clinicians while respecting patient privacy.
On a personal note, I’m originally from Finland, and hiking and being out in nature are my favourite ways to unwind. Nothing quite compares to the scent of a forest after rain—it’s maybe my path also why I’m so passionate also about planetary health themes.
Lung Cancer facts:
- It is estimated that in 2020, lung cancer made up 12% of all new cancer cases (excluding non-melanoma skin cancers) and caused 20% of all cancer deaths in the 27 EU countries.
- The five-year survival rate in Europe is low, ranging from 6-16%. This is largely due to late diagnosis, as 50-70% of patients are diagnosed at advanced stage 4, compared to only 15-25% at early stage 1, which offers a better prognosis and more treatment options.
- Lung cancer has the highest economic burden of all cancers in Europe with €18.8 billion (15% of overall cancer costs), of which 23% due to healthcare costs.
- Lung cancer also faces a significant stigma, often associated with smoking, which can delay diagnosis and reduce empathy towards patients. People who have never smoked account for 20% of lung cancer diagnoses every year.
- Although lung cancer is the model disease that was chosen for IDERHA, the final platform and tools will be disease-agnostic.