Livestrong(R) Global Cancer Campaign Announces Groundbreaking New European Commitments To Cancer Control

Main Category: Cancer / Oncology
Article Date: 28 Jun 2009 - 0:00 PDT

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Today the Lance Armstrong Foundation (LAF) announced outstanding new commitments to cancer control from European nations including Belgium, England, Germany, Ireland and Italy as part of the LIVESTRONG Global Cancer Campaign, an initiative to address the global cancer burden. The European commitments feature ambitious goals ranging from creating a national cancer plan to addressing disparities in treatment for cancer survivors to establishing an academy devoted entirely to cancer to improvements for breast health services, among others.

Across Europe there will be more than 3.4 million cases of cancer diagnosed in 2009 and more than 1.8 million deaths. Lung cancer is the most common cancer in men followed by prostate and colorectal cancer. Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women with approximately 450,000 new cases a year and the number one cause of cancer-related death in European women claiming approximately 150,000 lives.

"The commitments being made to cancer control in Europe are awe inspiring," said Doug Ulman, LAF President and CEO. "They are great examples of the progress we can accomplish when innovative ideas are well executed with the right support and resources."

Alexander Eggermont, President of the European CanCer Organization (ECCO) headquartered in Brussels, Belgium, is committing to create a stronger, more unified approach to cancer health and research policy by establishing a European Academy of Cancer Sciences in September, 2009. Twenty-five years ago, ECCO was founded on the vision that tackling cancer requires a coordinated effort, a new concept at the time which is now broadly accepted. ECCO supports taking a wider approach to oncology - one that will bring together major players in cancer research, treatment and care in order to create awareness of survivors' wishes and needs; encourage progressive thinking in cancer policy, education and training; and will continue to promote European cancer research.

Jon Spiers, an employee at Cancer Research UK in London, England, the largest funder of cancer research in Europe, says the goals his organization has created will link its vision to the progress being made and the impact it hopes to have in the next 10 years and beyond. Cancer Research UK, which receives nearly all its funding from the general public, allowing it to study more than 1 million cancer patients and support more than 100 clinical trials, is tackling major initiatives with outcomes expected to have significant impact on cancer control in the UK. Those initiatives will: make 75 percent of the UK public aware of lifestyle choices that reduce their risk of cancer; reduce the number of smokers by four million adults, preventing thousands of new diagnoses each year; lead to early diagnosis among two-thirds of all cancer cases, increasing chances for successful treatment; provide a detailed understanding of the causes and changes in the body in two-thirds of all cancer cases; reduce the disparities in mortality rates between the rich and poor by half, and give nine out of ten survivors the access to critical information they need at the time of diagnosis and during treatment.

Jan Geissler, CEO of the European Cancer Patient Coalition (ECPC) headquartered in Riemerling, Germany, outlines ECPC's commitment aims to protect and promote the fundamental rights of European cancer patients: increase cancer survivors' influence over the policies that affect them on a daily basis; demand timely access to appropriate prevention, screening and treatment; and promote the advancement of cancer research. ECPC's ultimate goal is to empower patients to become true partners in the healthcare system.

"Each year there are more than 2.2 million new cases and more than 1.1 million cancer deaths in the EU 25," Geissler said. "There is a lot to do to make sure all citizens can access appropriate prevention, early detection, diagnosis, treatment and care across the EU."

Christine Murphy-Whyte, board member of Europa Donna Ireland (EDI) in Dublin, Ireland, explained her organization is committed to raising the voice of the breast cancer survivors, patients and their affected family and friends through several initiatives. They plan to launch two campaigns - one a breast health media campaign that highlights behaviours to avoid in order to reduce rates of breast cancer, and another for health policy changes, with a focus on the need for specialized breast health centres that provide screenings, treatment and care. In addition, they will connect women in disadvantaged areas of Ireland to breast health services and will host the second annual Breast Health Day on October 15, 2009, with this year's focus on the importance of exercise.

Murphy-Whyte said, ""The voices of women in Ireland have been instrumental in pushing for change, including the voices of women, sadly no longer with us, who fell victim to outmoded practices and failure to benefit from the best that medical science has to offer."

Francesco De Lorenzo, founder of the Federation of Volunteer-Based Cancer Organizations (FAVO) in Rome, Italy, outlined the goals of his commitment, which include ensuring the approval of the National Cancer Plan by winter 2009; addressing the rehabilitation inequalities given to cancer survivors, especially among the poorer, southern populations; increasing up to 90% of people who have access to breast, colon and cervix cancer screenings and improve the impact cancer survivors have on health policy at the national and European level.

De Lorenzo said, "The approval of the National Cancer Plan will improve prevention, care and treatments, as well as rehabilitation of all cancer patients all over the country."

These advocates will join 250 attendees representing more than 60 countries around the world in an unprecedented show of solidarity against the global cancer epidemic at the LIVESTRONG Global Cancer Summit in Dublin, Ireland, August 24 - 26. The Summit will make the case for urgent action to address the global cancer burden and introduce new commitments for cancer control by bringing together key stakeholders from all parts of the world. The LIVESTRONG Global Cancer Summit will ignite a unified global movement while providing attendees the opportunity to connect with other advocates, network, gain media exposure and access tools and resources to help them mobilize in their own communities. Speakers include honorary Summit chair and former Irish President Mary Robinson, Irish Cancer Chief Professor Tom Keane, CNN chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta, as well as representatives from the World Health Organization and other global bodies.

In September 2008, Lance Armstrong, LAF founder and chairman, cancer survivor and champion cyclist, announced the Foundation's commitment to making cancer a global priority at the Clinton Global Initiative Annual Meeting in New York. The LAF made this commitment after its worldwide research, conducted over 18 months, revealed widespread misconceptions, stigma and lack of awareness associated with cancer. In response, the LAF established the LIVESTRONG Global Cancer Campaign to urgently address the burden of cancer worldwide and support the 28 million people living with cancer around the globe. Cancer kills more people every year than AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria combined. It is estimated that cancer will be the leading cause of death worldwide by 2010. With such staggering statistics, the LAF recognized that a global challenge like cancer required a global movement. And so it began urging world leaders, leading cancer organizations and cancer survivors to join together by making commitments to take action in their communities to reduce the burden of cancer.

Source
The LIVESTRONG Global Cancer Campaign
Lance Armstrong Foundation