WORLD WIDE PROSTATE CANCER COALITION (WWPPC)

Uomo Global Prostate Cancer Survivors Coalition gets go ahead!

 

Leaders of national prostate cancer survivors organisations from Australia, Canada, Europe (represented by Europa Uomo, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany and Ireland), Israel, Japan, New Zealand, South Africa and the three Key groups from the United States have reached agreement to investigate the benefits of the formation of a Global Prostate Cancer Health Coalition.

The talks were facilitated jointly by Europa Uomo and the International Union against Cancer (UICC) and were held during the recent World Cancer Congress in Washington DC, July 11th 2006.

Preliminary talks had been initiated between the United States, Canada, Australia and Europe over two years ago, leading to agreement to discuss the possibility that some form of global collaboration between Prostate Cancer Patient Groups from the different world regions, could have a significant benefit for men at risk of, or affected by Prostate Cancer or diseases of the Prostate.

The UICC had also been aware for some time of the urgent need to provide positive recognition of the male patient/cancer survivor and their support organisations.

The meeting in Washington gave those attending, the opportunity to state their priorities and objectives for the formation of a Coalition of Prostate Cancer Survivors Organisations.

Points noted in the ensuing discussion were:

  • The need for a total commitment of trust from all involved.

  • Collaboration should form the basis of a ‘global reference point’.

  • The need to keep such a structure as simple as possible.

  • The setting up of a web site containing up to date information and accurate and effective practices and guidelines.

  • To address the needs of men and those of their families.

  • To recognise the potential of the critical mass of such a group in advocacy and research.

  • The need to establish a ‘web portal’ that would be a resource point by which all member organisations could store and share information tools that could be utilised to increase their objectives.

  • The proposal that participants should apply for UICC individual membership and such members could then join the Cancer Community of Professionals and Advocates within UICC.

The unanimous decision of all participants to support the principle of the formation of a coalition and their wish to maintain the momentum of the meeting was reflected in a proposal to form a working group to start the process, the following agreed to participate:

  • Durado Brooks, ACS

  • Louis Denis, Europa Uomo

  • Tom Hudson, Europa Uomo

  • Jim Kiefert, Us TOO

  • Tom Kirk, Us TOO

  • Robert Shiell, Canadian Prostate Cancer Network

  • Virgil Simons, The Prostate Net

  • Barry Young, Prostate Cancer Foundation

This working group now will take appropriate action to form the coalition by:

  • Establishing an email network (already in hand)

  • Start building a web portal and look into the opportunity of becoming or creating a Common Interest Group under the new UICC individual membership structure.

  • Start reaching out to other prostate cancer groups around the world through the existing UICC global membership structure and any other appropriate means.

  • Get official recognition as part of a UICC project.

At the conclusion of the meeting all participants signed a document that underlined their support of the formation of a global coalition.

The participants' list is available here.

Tom Hudson
Chair Europa Uomo

WASHINGTON, JULY 2006