Unmet Needs Persist Among Young Cancer Survivors Across Europe, New e-QuoL Study Finds

Many childhood, adolescent and young adult cancer survivors (CAYACS) across Europe continue to face significant unmet information and support needs, even years after their diagnosis.

A new study from the e-QuoL Needs Study, involving 571 survivors across 21 European countries, shows that these unmet needs are not the exception—they are the norm.

Most participants reported at least one unmet need, particularly related to cancer-related health information, emotional and psychological consequences, and difficulties navigating health systems.

Unequal survivorship care across Europe

The study also reveals important inequalities in survivorship care.

Female survivors, individuals experiencing neurocognitive late effects, and those living in Eastern European regions were more likely to report unmet needs.

These findings highlight that access to information and support after cancer is not consistent across Europe.

Impact on patient activation and quality of life

Unmet needs are not only common—they may have measurable consequences.

The study found a clear association between the presence of unmet needs and lower patient activation, as well as poorer physical and mental health-related quality of life.

Patient activation refers to how confident, informed, and able individuals feel to manage their own health and healthcare. When activation is low, survivors may struggle more with follow-up care, decision-making, and self-management.

A call for routine assessment and tailored support

The authors of the study emphasize that survivorship care should not end with treatment.

They call for routine assessment of survivors’ needs from diagnosis onwards, as well as long-term follow-up strategies that respond to changing needs over time.

They also highlight the importance of tailored interventions, including:

• Accessible written information
• Digital health tools
• Survivorship care resources such as survivorship passports

Relevance for the e-QuoL project and MyCare

These findings strongly support the approach of the e-QuoL project and its MyCare mobile application, which aim to provide personalised, accessible and equitable digital support for young cancer survivors across Europe.

By addressing unmet needs in a structured and inclusive way, e-QuoL contributes to improving patient activation and enhancing long-term quality of life for a growing population of survivors.

Photo: Chona Kasinger / Disabled And Here project.