10th Anniversary of Europacolon

Our Membership Officer Camille Bullot attended the 10th anniversary celebration of our provisional member EuropaColon on 5 March 2014. The event was hosted by MEP Petru Luhan (EPP, Romania) with Health Commissioner Borg as special guest.

The European umbrella patient organisation dedicated to colorectal cancer, EuropaColon, was founded in 2004 and represents now 33 patient organisations. Pr. Eric Van Cutsem, speaking about the evolution of colorectal cancer care over the past 10 years, highlighted that “In Europe, there are 450 000 new colorectal cancer patients every year”.

Jola Gore-Booth, CEO and Founder of EuropaColon, highlighted that March 2014 was the Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. Colorectal Cancer is cancer that starts in either the colon or the rectum. Colon cancer and rectal cancer have many features in common.

In his speech, Commissioner Borg said that “(…) we share, I believe, the common aim to prevent cancer wherever possible and to improve the prospects of cancer patients through appropriate and timely diagnosis, information and care.”

Cancer control will remain on the EU agenda with a new Joint Action 2014-2017 "Development of the European Guide on Quality Improvement in Comprehensive Cancer Control" (CanCon). This 2014-2017 Joint Action aims at promoting key elements on how to prevent and reduce cancers that are preventable and at supporting the exchange of best practices between Member States.

“When you are healthy, you have a lot of wishes. When you are not, you only have one” said Petru Luhan (MEP)

For more information about our members, please contact EPF Membership Officer Camille Bullot at camille.bullot@eu-patient.eu.