Leading Colorectal Patient Organisation Calls on EU Countries to Improve Poor Standards of Care

Barcelona, Spain (ots/PRNewswire) - 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
3. European network of Cancer Registries, ENCR Factsheets, Vol 2,
December 2002, Breast Cancer in Europe, Jerzy E, Tycznski, Freddie
Bray, D Maxwell, at:
http://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. Brussels Declaration for the Prevention of Colon Cancer Across Europe,
May 2007
http://www.future-health-2007.com/index.php?id=15#c601

Contacts:
Marian Byrt, UK,
+44(0)777-4953400,
marianbyrt@echocoms.com ;
Silvia Munoz, Spain,
+91-687-72-02-81,
smunoz@plannermedia.com .

ots Originaltext: europacolon
Im Internet recherchierbar: http://www.presseportal.de

Contact:
Contacts: Marian Byrt, UK, +44(0)777-4953400, marianbyrt@echocoms.com
; Silvia Munoz, Spain, +91-687-72-02-81, smunoz@plannermedia.com .