News



Worldwide differences in care for female-specific cancers

female patient and doctor talking The largest global analysis of care for women with breast, cervical and ovarian cancer shows substantial differences in stage at diagnosis, treatment and adherence to international guidelines. The study, published today in The Lancet, includes data from more than 275,000 women from cancer registries in 39 countries between 2015 and 2018. The Netherlands Comprehensive Cancer Organisation (IKNL) contributed data from the Netherlands Cancer Registry (NCR) and is co-author of the publication. Read more

Europe launches CancerWatch

cancer watch With a kick-off in Oslo, today marks the start of CancerWatch, a new EU Joint Action that will transform how Europe collects, harmonizes, and uses cancer data. Coordinated by the Norwegian Institute of Public Health and involving 92 partner organisations from 29 countries, CancerWatch will enhance the quality, comparability, and timeliness of data from population-based cancer registries (PBCRs) across Europe. Read more

IKNL & EHDS: working together towards future-proof oncological care

ehds -en Healthcare is under pressure. People are living longer, but more often with chronic conditions and cancer. At the same time, workforce shortages are increasing, and workloads are rising. In this context, it is crucial to better utilize health data to ensure accessibility, quality, and affordability of care. Not just by making data available, but above all by making it 'fit for purpose'. IKNL plays a key role in this effort. Read more

OECD Cancer Profiles 2025: Where does the Netherlands stand in Europe?

Amsterdam

How is the Netherlands performing in the fight against cancer? The European Cancer Country Profiles 2025, recently published by the OECD and the European Union, provide a detailed overview of how European countries are doing on cancer control — from incidence and mortality rates to prevention, screening, and healthcare spending.

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The Backbone of Cancer Control: European Cancer Registries

encr Cancer is deeply personal. It is a reality that touches families, friends, and communities across Europe. And yet, to understand and combat cancer effectively, we must also take a broader view — one that looks at populations and recognizes patterns, disparities, and progress. 
 
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Updated European Cancer Information System provides essential insights for cancer policy and research

Updated European Cancer Information System The European Cancer Information System (ECIS) has been revamped and updated with the latest cancer burden indicators, derived from population-based cancer registry data across Europe. Managed by the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC), the update was made possible thanks to the contributions of more than 125 cancer registries in 32 countries – including IKNL in the Netherlands. Read more

IKNL launches renewed international website

iknl international

IKNL (Netherlands Comprehensive Cancer Organisation) has launched its renewed international website: iknl.org. The website is designed to better inform international partners, researchers and policymakers about IKNL’s work, the Netherlands Cancer Registry (NCR), and scientific collaborations in the field of cancer.

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Dutch research confirms: young women with cervical cancer often not HPV-vaccinated

Young woman drinks glass of water Young women diagnosed with cervical cancer are often found to be unvaccinated against HPV. This is the outcome of the first Dutch study on HPV vaccination among women under 30 with cervical cancer. Only 15% of the women in the study had been vaccinated, while in the general population of women in that age group, at least 55% had received the vaccine*. It is now well established that the vaccine offers protection against this type of cancer.
The findings of the study, based on data from the Netherlands Cancer Registry of IKNL, were presented on International HPV Awareness Day, the 4th of March 2025. The research was initiated by gynecologists from Amsterdam UMC, who are concerned about the large number of people choosing not to get the HPV vaccine.
 
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