Dear Colleagues,

The number of people getting cancer has been rising for years, as has the proportion of deaths caused by it. 395,000 people now get cancer every year, and around 210,000 die of it. According to the Robert Koch Institute, this puts the age-standardised incidence and mortality rates for both men and women in Germany above the European average. We patently have to redouble our efforts. In doing so, the fight against cancer must become an issue of the highest importance for everyone in our country!

Fighting cancer is without doubt a mighty task, which has many facets. Intensification of preventative measures to avoid new incidences of cancer. Structural improvements in care provision, so that in the event of illness everybody is offered what are currently proven to the best applicable treatment options, regardless of where they live or their personal circumstances. Optimising cancer therapy, so that first-rate services in oncologic treatment are available to those urgently in need, and are graded in such a way that the fight against cancer is able to do its work efficiently across the length and breadth of the nation. This requires both a better nationwide structure and well-targeted use of the results from primary research.

Even while making such great efforts, we should nevertheless critically scrutinise findings from the fields of treatment and prevention, in order to ensure that all development is positive and to enable us to assert ourselves better on the political stage.

Such a major task can only be tackled through joint action. The basic prerequisites for this have evolved in Germany over the last few years. These must now be consolidated without delay. This begins with the political environment and the need for better coordination of research grants, carries on with interdisciplinary cooperation in the area of treatment and with faster transfers from primary research into clinical application and culminates in increased involvement by patients taking responsibility for themselves.

We aim through this cancer congress to offer this need for joint action a platform for constructive discussion and developing joint plans. In the process, sufferers, non-sufferers and those from the ancillary medical professions will have an opportunity to air their views.

With kind regards

Prof. Dr. Werner Hohenberger
Congress President