JOIN FORCES TO FIGHT CANCER, MEPs URGE

5.14.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 9th Apr 2008

More funding, better awareness and better sharing of best practice and research are needed to take the fight against cancer to the next level, according to a Liberal Democrat MEP.

Liz Lynne MEP (ALDE, UK), Co-Chair of campaign group MEPs Against Cancer and Vice President of the Disability Intergroup, spoke in the European Parliament today on a new resolution aimed at greater coordination of EU-wide efforts to combat the disease and more funding for prevention, screening and early detection. The resolution is expected to be adopted by MEPs tomorrow.

Speaking today, Liz Lynne said:

"Cancer is already the second biggest killer in Europe, but the reality is that many cancers are preventable, and many cancer deaths unnecessary. There are strong initiatives which can be taken at an EU level to ensure that best practice is more shared more effectively."

"A recent survey showed that 17% of people in Austria had been screened for colorectal cancer, thanks to a national screening programme, but only 4% of Britons and 1% of Cypriots took the same test. Many thousands could be saved if screening programmes were rolled out everywhere and people were educated as to why screening is crucial.

"Member State governments are ultimately responsible for health policy, but we can and must do much more at EU level, setting up mechanisms to ensure that best practice is shared more effectively between Member States.

"We also need to make sure that those diagnosed with cancer are not discriminated against in the workplace and one way to achieve this would be the development of a definition of disability at EU level, which could include people with cancer."

ENDS

Notes:

The text of the resolution can be found here: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=MOTION&language=EN&reference=B6-2008-0132

MEPs Against Cancer (MAC): http://www.mepsagainstcancer.org/

Bowel Cancer: Key facts and figures

UK incidence is worse than most EU Member States, ranking 15th of 27, with an incidence of 54.9 (male) and 34.8 (female) per 100,000 population, slightly better than the overall EU-wide figure of 59 (m) & 35.6 (f) per 100,000 people.

Screening for bowel (colorectal) cancer can reduce the chances of dying by 16%. (The Independent)

Bowel cancer screening is offered to men and women between 60 and 69 in the UK.

Claimed 16,092 lives in the UK in 2005 (latest figures)

Cancer in the EU:

There are more than 2.2 million new cases and more than 1.1 cancer deaths in the EU 25 each year

Every day, over 6000 Europeans are diagnosed with cancer and more than 3000 die from their disease

The number of Europeans with cancer will increase dramatically by 2015 due to the ageing population (www.iarc.fr)