Lung Cancer and Mental Health: Evidence for Change from the 11th Lung Cancer Europe Report
Angeliki Souri, Lung Cancer Europe Vice President, opening the conversation on mental health in lung cancer
Last night in Copenhagen, Lung Cancer Europe officially launched its 11th Annual Report during the European Lung Cancer Congress (ELCC) 2026. Titled "Lung Cancer and Mental Health: A Focus on Lung Cancer Type, Biomarker Group, and Cross-Country Comparisons," this research provides a first-of-its-kind look at the psychological burden of the disease across 31 countries.
Drawing on responses from 2,204 individuals, the findings reveal that while mental health is an inseparable part of lung cancer care, it remains inconsistently recognised and supported across Europe.
A Lived, Day-to-Day Burden
The report moves beyond clinical statistics to address the "hidden" emotional toll of a diagnosis. Key findings from this year’s research include:
The Support Gap: 31% of participants received no mental health support at any point during their care.
The "Untested Penalty": People who have not undergone biomarker testing reported the poorest mental health overall and the highest negative impact on their finances and work life.
Small Cell Lung Cancer Crisis: Despite facing rapid disease progression, 74.3% of people with small cell lung cancer (SCLC) were never referred to a patient organisation by their healthcare provider.
Geographic Inequality: A profound "well-being gap" exists across the continent, where access to essential psychological support varies significantly depending on where someone lives.
Expert Perspectives from Copenhagen
The launch event highlighted the necessity of integrating clinical expertise with the patient voice. Emma Britton shared her story movingly, illustrating the profound personal impact of these findings, while Valeria Sebri provided a critical clinical perspective on the psychological needs of the community.
The discussion, led by LuCE Vice President Angeliki Souri and moderated by Melanie De Coster, reinforced a singular message: comprehensive cancer care must include mental health care as a standard.
Call to Action
"The mental health of people with lung cancer and their relatives is often overlooked," says Debra Montague, President of Lung Cancer Europe. Lung Cancer Europe is calling on policymakers and healthcare providers to embed psychosocial services across the entire lung cancer pathway, ensuring that no one has to face this journey alone.