On 16 July 2025, the EU Cancer Mission and Japan’s National Cancer Centre hosted a collaborative event at the EU Pavilion during Expo 2025 Osaka. The session, titled “Fighting Cancer: How the EU Cancer Mission and Japan’s National Cancer Centre Address the Challenge,” spotlighted adolescents and young adults (AYA), shared survivor stories, and emphasized international cooperation in research, trial design, and patient‑centered solutions.
At the heart of the discussion was a shared priority: improving quality of life during and after cancer – especially for adolescents and young adults (AYAs). Survivors from both Europe and Japan shared personal stories that revealed striking similarities in their experiences. These exchanges highlighted the importance of building a global AYA community that offers peer support, fosters learning and strengthens advocacy.
As the session closed, a shared belief emerged among participants from both continents: international cooperation is essential to advance cancer research and care. By breaking down barriers, pooling knowledge and elevating patient voices, groundwork for a new era of collaborative cancer research is being laying down.