Calls for action on early detection mark European Prostate Cancer Awareness Day
Europa Uomo was at the European Parliament in Brussels for European Prostate Cancer Awareness Day (EPAD), setting an agenda for prostate cancer with policy makers, researchers, scientists, health professionals and advocacy groups.
The day, held on 3rd September, aims to improve awareness, understanding and knowledge of the disease, its early detection and management. Those gathered into the European Parliament for the special event included participants from the Europa Uomo Summer School and MEPs Giorgos Georgiou, Michalis Hadjipantela and Vytenis Povilas Andriukaitis.
“This was a much-needed event, and the MEPs – all highly committed to public health and prostate cancer – took centre stage,” says Europa Uomo Chairman Erik Briers, who was one of the speakers. “The importance of prostate cancer screening was again emphasised. There have been advances over the past three years, since the EU Council updated its advice on screening, but as patients we know the struggle to get screening done is not yet over.”
Among the speakers were: Hein Van Poppel, Policy Office Chairman of the European Association of Urology; Monique Roobol, head of the scientific office at Erasmus Medical Centre in Rotterdam and a leader of the PRAISE-U project; and Peter Baker, Director of Global Action on Men’s Health.
In his presentation, Erik Briers pointed out that since prostate cancer – the most prevalent cancer in men – is not preventable and has no symptoms or warning signs, the only way to address it is through population-based screening. Since, three years ago, the EU Council was ambivalent about recommending full-scale screening programmes, pilot screening programmes have been established across Europe with five of them being formally assessed under the EU PRAISE-U project.
“Early diagnosis leads to more curative and successful treatments, and better quality of life,” he said. “Let’s get screening for prostate cancer done!”