Access to treatments for cancer, such as radiotherapy, surgery and drugs as well as the availability of anti-cancer drugs and medical training vary throughout the EU, according to a study published by the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) on 3 October 2006. Access to information is also said to vary from country to country.

The survey published in Medical OncologyStatus in Europe is a study and comparison of countries, sub-specializations of oncology, on education and training, patterns of care, national guidelines on clinical research and cancer. The study found that Iceland, Switzerland, Italy and Germany have the highest number of both oncologists and facilities as to their population size, whereas Eastern European nations have fewer specialist units.

"This is a failure for Europe," said the president of ESMO, Dr Hakan Mellstedt, referring to thousands, perhaps tens of thousands of unnecessary deaths each year due to lack of care.