Leading colorectal cancer patient organisation calls on EU countries to improve poor standards of care

Barcelona, Wednesday 25th June 2008 – Europacolon has called on all governments to implement existing EU recommendations on colorectal cancer screening following a new report published today that shows the disease to be significantly neglected despite being the second most common cancer in Europe^[1].

Welcoming the findings of the report by the London School of Economics,2 Jola Gore-Booth, Director of Europacolon said: “For too long colorectal cancer has been the poor relation in cancer screening and management. It causes over 50% more deaths each year than breast cancer, yet in many countries, breast cancer screening has been widely available for more than two decades whereas few formal screening programmes exist for colorectal cancer.”^[1,3]

She continued: “EU Health Ministers made recommendations to all member states in 2003 in regard to cancer screening programmes and these were reiterated in the Declaration of Brussels in 2007, but today’s findings show these are not being implemented quickly enough. In the meantime, nearly a quarter of a million people are dying each year from this debilitating disease which can be prevented if diagnosed and treated at an early stage.”^[4,5]

Dr Keith Spencer, Director of Europacolon added: “Today’s report reveals the continuing deficiencies in approach, both at European and national level, to the current management and treatment of colorectal cancer. This is a growing problem given the increasingly ageing population. It is estimated that the incidence of colorectal cancer will increase by more than 22% by 2015 if action is not taken.”^[1]

Europacolon is the first European organisation dedicated to colorectal cancer and aims to unite patients, carers, healthcare professionals, politicians, the media and the public in the fight against the disease. In Europe, 412,000 people are diagnosed with colorectal cancer every year.^[1]

References:

1. Ferlay J, Autier P et al. Annals of Oncology 18. 581-592, 2007
2. Kanavos P, Colorectal Cancer in Europe and Australia, LSE Health, June 2008, 217 p. ISBN 978-0-85328-302-7, available at: http://www.lse.ac.uk/collections/LSEHealth/LSEoncolorectalcancer.htm
3. European network of Cancer Registries, ENCR Factsheets, Vol 2, December 2002, Breast Cancer in Europe, Jerzy E, Tycznski, Freddie Bray, D Maxwell, available at: www.encr.com.fr/breast-factsheets.pdf
4. Official Journal of the European Union, Council Recommendations of 2 December 2003 on cancer screening. L327/34
5. The Brussels Declaration for the Prevention of Colon Cancer Across Europe, 9 May 2007 www.future-health-2007.com/index.php?id=15#c601

1. 7. 2008 Europacolon Press Release

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