PRESS RELEASE
For immediate release
26 March 2026
New Research Unveils Stark Mental Health Disparities Across Lung Cancer Types
Copenhagen, Denmark - 26 March 2026 - Lung Cancer Europe today launched its 11th Annual Report at the European Lung Cancer Congress 2026. This research reveals stark disparities in mental health support across the European lung cancer community.
This year’s report provides a first-of-its-kind comparative analysis, demonstrating that lung cancer type and biomarker status significantly influence the severity of emotional struggles and access to care.
The Crisis of the "Untested" and High-Risk Subtypes
The Crisis of the 'Untested' and High-Risk Groups: The report identifies a critical 'untested penalty.' Participants who had not undergone biomarker testing reported the poorest mental health overall. This group experienced the lowest 'good' mental health scores (44.6%) and the highest negative impact on their work and finances (34.6%).
Key Findings from the 11th Lung Cancer Europe Report:
Universal Emotional Strain: An average of 89.3% of all participants experienced significant emotional difficulties following diagnosis.
The Small Cell Lung Cancer Burden: Patients with small cell lung cancer face high distress, with 66.2% reporting a negative impact on their mental health - surpassing the general average of 61.2%.
Geographic Inequality: A profound well-being gap exists across the continent. While participants in Italy, Switzerland, and Denmark reported higher mental health scores, those in Slovenia, Ukraine, and Greece experience the greatest negative psychological impact.
Systemic Failure in Support: 31% of respondents received no mental health support at any point during their care. For small cell lung cancer patients, the gap is wider: 74.3% were never referred to a patient organisation by their healthcare provider.
Spotlight: Small Cell Lung Cancer
A dedicated sub-report released alongside the main findings highlights the status of the small cell lung cancer community. Despite facing rapid disease progression, 59% of small cell lung cancer respondents were not offered any form of mental health support.
"The mental health of people with lung cancer and their relatives is often overlooked," says Debra Montague, President of Lung Cancer Europe. "Our research into small cell lung cancer confirms this systemic failure: nearly 60% were never offered mental health support, and an incredible 74.3% were never referred to a patient organisation for help. We must move beyond treating the physical disease alone and integrate psychological care as a standard of care for every person impacted by lung cancer."
Call to Action: Lung Cancer Europe calls on policymakers and healthcare providers to:
Mandate Support: Embed psychosocial services across the lung cancer pathway, including routine distress screening and timely access to evidence-based psychological care.
Bridge the Information Gap: Prioritise clear communication regarding treatment options and side effect management, identified by patients as primary factors to improve mental health.
Ensure Referrals: Standardise signposting to patient organisations and trusted resources from the moment of diagnosis.
Notes to Editors
About the 11th Lung Cancer Europe Report
This is the 11th in a series of annual reports by Lung Cancer Europe. Each report explores the real-world experiences of people living with lung cancer and those close to them, focusing on the barriers they face and how systems can respond. This 11th report examines the psychological and emotional impact of lung cancer, drawing on responses from 2,204 individuals across 31 countries. Previous reports have covered access to treatment, diagnosis delays, stigma, clinical trials, and quality of life.
About Lung Cancer Europe
Lung Cancer Europe is a non-profit umbrella organisation representing lung cancer advocacy groups from across Europe. Established in 2013, it works to raise awareness, support the development of strong advocacy, and improve outcomes for those affected by lung cancer.
Lung cancer in Europe
Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer death in Europe. It accounts for an estimated 484,306 new cases per year - around 11.5% of all new cancer diagnoses in the region.
It is responsible for 375,569 deaths annually - nearly 21% of all cancer deaths in Europe.
(Source: GLOBOCAN 2022, see IARC Fact Sheet: Trachea, Bronchus and Lung)
Although incidence is declining in men in many European countries, rates in women have increased (Source: Chinmay Jani et al., “Lung cancer mortality in Europe and the USA between 2000 and 2017”, ERJ Open Research, 2021)
Media contact
For media enquiries, interview requests or access to additional visuals, contact:
📧 laura.jones@lungcancereurope.eu +44 7973282377