Mission Early
Mission Early is a global initiative uniting partners to improve early cancer detection, diagnosis, and treatment through policy guidance, evidence, and collaboration.
Launched in 2024, Mission Early is a multi-stakeholder initiative to increase early detection, timely diagnosis and early-stage treatment of cancer with a focus on high-incidence cancers, including breast, lung, and prostate.
Mission Early develops policy evidence, disseminates best practices and provides recommendations for policy action to bring the highest possible standard of early cancer care to everyone.
The initiative aligns and supports key targets in the World Cancer Declaration 2025–2035: 60% of cancers are diagnosed at an early stage and 80% of cancer-care facilities have access to essential medicines and technologies by 2035.
The initiative is currently governed by a Steering Group (SG), comprised of founding members (UICC, All.Can, Cancer Patients Europe and MSD) and an expert advisor.
Research and advocacy
To date, Mission Early has commissioned several research studies focusing on:
- Identifying OECD countries with the most effective policies for early cancer care and best practices (Lavendar Zones) [1];
- Identifying the ‘ideal’ policy framework for early cancer care (Rand Europe) [2]; and
- demonstrating the economic value of early cancer detection and treatment (Triangulate Europe - currently being finalised).
In parallel, Mission Early partners have supported advocacy activities aimed at influencing policy change related to early detection, treatment and care among national and regional decision makers in Europe (EU, Spain and Romania) and Latin America (Mexico).
In November 2025, Mission Early launched a Call to Action for Better Early Cancer Care, targeted at global cancer policymakers. There are 15 signatories to date, including national and global health organisations, patient advocacy groups and industry partners.
What is UICC's role?
UICC is a founding member and assumed Secretariat duties for ME in April 2026 to support transitioning the initiative from research to implementation of policy-focused advocacy activities at the global, regional and national levels.
Mission Early sessions highlighting research findings and recommendations have been featured at key UICC events, including the WCC 2024, World Cancer Leaders’ Summit 2025 and the Cancer Planner’s Forum 2026.
At the World Cancer Congress 2026, Mission Early brought together partners and experts to explore how progress in early cancer care can be advanced worldwide. The session reflected on Mission Early’s journey and achievements to date, shared emerging evidence on the value of earlier cancer detection, diagnosis and treatment, and looked ahead to the initiative’s next phase, moving from research and policy evidence towards action and implementation.
Watch the session recording to hear perspectives on how collaboration, evidence and advocacy can help ensure more people benefit from timely, equitable access to early cancer care.
Muhammad Yaseen, a UICC Technical Fellow working at the Lady Reading Hospital in Pakistan, describes how a free, automated quality control software can make imaging equipment more reliable, and help detect cancers earlier.
Strengthening early cancer detection through...
When Joey Barnes was diagnosed with testicular cancer, he responded with humour, a podcast, and a promise to speak openly about a disease many men never discuss. After his death, his mother founded Having a Ball, a UICC member organisation, to keep that message alive.
“If I can save one other man from going through...
Podcast "Let’s Talk Cancer" – Innovative...
Resources
[1] A future where cancer is detected and treated as early as possible
[2] Consensus building research to identify the ‘ideal’ policy framework for early cancer care
[3] Coloquio Mission Early: Reunión multidisciplinaria para mejorar los tiempos de diagnóstico y tratamiento de cánceres que afectan predominantemente a las mujeres
[4] Harnessing genomics for early cancer detection, risk stratification and prevention
[5] Clinical implementation of multi-cancer early detection tests: can we find a path forward?
[6] Early Cancer Detection: What's Going on and What's Next
[7] Artificial intelligence in breast cancer: applications and advancements
[8] Spain expands breast cancer screening programme
Mission Early's Steering Group
Partners
Last update
Tuesday 10 November 2026