Nutrition in Cancer Care: Closing the Gap Between Awareness and Action

On February 3, 2026, on the eve of World Cancer Day, Cancer Patients Europe (CPE) hosted the high-level policy event “Nutrition in Cancer Care: Closing the Gap Between Awareness and Action” at the European Parliament in Brussels, marking the launch of its new European White Paper on nutritional support in cancer care. The event brought together policymakers, healthcare professionals, researchers, and patient advocates to address a critical yet often overlooked aspect of oncology: nutrition. Despite its proven impact on treatment tolerance, recovery, and quality of life, nutritional care remains insufficiently integrated into cancer pathways across Europe. The White Paper, based on the experiences of over 2,500 patients across 12 countries, presents evidence of a persistent gap between awareness and implementation. A key highlight of the event was the panel discussion featuring patient representatives and experts, during which Beatrice Credi (European Liver Patients’ Association) contributed alongside other advocates, ensuring that patient perspectives remained central to the debate. The discussion underscored how gaps in nutritional support directly affect patients’ daily lives, treatment experiences, and recovery outcomes. Discussions during the event—also widely reflected across CPE’s communication channels—emphasised the urgent need to move from awareness to concrete action. Stakeholders called for mandatory nutritional screening, improved access to dietitians, and stronger integration of nutrition into national cancer plans and EU policy frameworks.