Colorectal Cancer Patients Call for European Action / The Power of Patient Voice: Europe's largest patient conference to fight the killer disease has been successfully launched

London (ots) - Colorectal cancer (CRC) patients from across Europe
benefited greatly from the Colorectal Cancer Patient Conference that
took place in Barcelona last weekend: With almost 200 attendees from
27 countries the first pan-European conference of its kind united CRC
patients and experts from the whole continent to share the latest
knowledge about prevention, diagnosis and therapy. Europe's fastest
growing CRC patient organisation europacolon organised the conference
to motivate delegates to take action in prioritising the awareness of
the disease, extending Formal Population Screening Programmes and
encouraging the improvement of standards as well as the equity of
care through National Cancer Plans.

"We are proud that the conference has created such enthusiasm
amongst attendees who are now eager to action changes in their
countries to improve prevention, diagnosis and treatment of
colorectal cancer," states Jola Gore-Booth, CEO and founder of
europacolon. Together with its partners, the World Health
Organisation, LIVESTRONG and Global Colon Cancer, europacolon also
aims to obtain a stronger commitment from governments across Europe
to support changes in their healthcare systems where needed.
"europacolon addresses authorities throughout Europe to take actions
to expedite the equal access to the best CRC treatment and care of
citizens. We call to all European nations to implement National
Cancer Plans and Formal Population Screening Programmes," adds Gore-
Booth. The annual CRC event was actively supported by cancer
advocates from across Europe, amongst others Czech MEP Pavel Poc.

Colon cancer is still the second most common malignancy in Europe
with yearly more than 400,000 newly diagnosed patients and over
200,000 deaths. "Yet colorectal cancer is preventable in many cases
and highly treatable if diagnosed early," affirms Professor Eric Van
Cutsem, Medical Director of europacolon. "It is essential that all
Europeans are accurately and responsibly informed about colorectal
cancer because good cancer care starts with sound cancer
information," adds CRC survivor Suzanne Lindley from the U.S. And
indeed, informed patients are invaluable partners for clinicians!

www.ipse.de/europacolon

www.europacolon.com

Contact:
Katrin Lewandowski
+49(030)288846-14