This paper written by H. Van Poppel, R. Hogenhout, et al. presents a personalised strategy that enables selective early detection of prostate cancer by combining PSA-testing‚ risk calculators, and MRI. This will likely lead to reduced prostate cancer–related morbidity and mortality, while reducing the need for prostate biopsy and limiting overdiagnosis.

The Board of Europa Uomo is preparing an information-package email about the new EU recommendation on early detection for prostate cancer, to be sent to our members in the next weeks. Please keep an eye on your mailbox.

In the meanwhile, here is what this new EU recommendation on early detection for prostate cancer says:

On 20^th September, 2022, the Commission presents a new approach to support Member States increasing the uptake of cancer screening. Focusing on detection of cancers at an early stage, the objective of the proposed recommendation is to increase the number of screenings, covering more target groups and more cancers.

This new EU approach, based on the latest available scientific developments and evidence, will support Member States ensuring that 90% of the EU population who qualify for breast, cervical and colorectal cancer screenings are offered such screening by 2025. The new recommendation also expands population-based organised cancer screening to include lung, prostate and, under certain circumstances, gastric cancers.

The recommendation extends organised screening for prostate cancer: Testing in men up to 70 on the basis of prostate specific antigen testing, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanning as follow-up.

At their next meeting, the Board of Europa Uomo will be discussing the possibility of organising a survey aimed to informal caregivers, primarily the spouse/partner of prostate cancer patients but also children/family living under the same roof.

The survey will in the first place concentrate on the psychological burden on the partners of prostate cancer patients and their perceptions of life after a prostate cancer diagnosis.

More information in future Updates.

Europa Uomo contributed to an excellent updated guide on prostate cancer. This guide has been prepared to help cancer patients, their friends, family and caregivers, better understand prostate cancer and its treatments.

The medical information described in this guide is based on the ESMO Clinical Practice Guideline for prostate cancer.

You can download the guide here.

On 19th October, our member group ‘the Lithuanian Association of Prostate Cancer Patients’ participated at a meeting organised by the Ministry of Health of Lithuania. The meeting was attended by: Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications, Prof. Danguolė Jankauskiene; Odeta Vitkūnienė, Chancellor of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry; and Paulius Rakštys, member of the Europa UOMO board.

Topics discussed were:

• How to strengthen cooperation between the Ministry of Health and Europa UOMO
• How to carry out regular surveys of Lithuanian patients with prostate cancer about their well-being after radical prostate surgery, chemotherapy, other procedures and long-term monitoring, to exchange information between other EU countries in order to improve the health status of patients
• How to cooperate in the exchange of wellness programmes and improve the prevention of prostate diseases in society
• Invitation of the chairman of Europe UOMO board, Ernst-Günther Carl, to visit Lithuania and get acquainted with the health system, to meet with prostate patients.

AnCan Virtual Support Group for Active Surveillance, Active Surveillance Patients International, Prostate Cancer Support Canada, and The Active Surveillor newsletter are asking your participation in a survey to obtain patient perspectives on active surveillance.  The results of this survey will be used in informing appropriate bodies about our views on active surveillance.

More information here. To participate in the survey, click here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/W69XXDS (deadline 15th November 2022).

On 5th November 2022 at 5:00-10:30 pm CET, ZERO (USA) is holding a symposium on health equity on the basis that everyone should have a fair and just opportunity to prevent, find, treat, and survive prostate cancer, regardless of race, sexual orientation, financial resources, physical abilities, or area of residence. Register here.

On 15th November 2022 at 11:00 pm CET, they are holding a webinar on the ASTRO 2022 Annual Meeting: The Future of Radiation in Prostate Cancer. Register here.

In September, ASPI held an informative ‘Active Surveillance 101 Part 1’ meeting. If you missed it you can watch it here:  AS 101 Part 1.

ASPI has planned a Part 2 on 29th October 2022 at 6 pm CET. More information and registration here.

On 17th November, the Active Surveillance Coalition is holding a webinar to discuss how we can move AS forward to help more. See the invitation here.

The European Medicines Agency organised a workshop on “Patient Experience Data in EU medicines development and regulatory decision-making” on 21st September.

This multistakeholder workshop brought together patients, healthcare professionals, academia, regulators, and industry to discuss ways to improve the collection and use of patient experience data to achieve patient-centred medicine development and regulation. 

An information, inclusive a video recording and an executive summary of the workshop, have been published here.