Colorectal Cancer Incidence and Death Rates in Europe Remain Alarming!
LONDON, March 1, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --
European Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month (ECCAM) Calls on all Europeans to Fight This Trend
The global burden of colorectal cancer continues to increase largely because of the ageing and growth of the world population alongside an increasing adoption of cancer-causing behaviors, particularly smoking, in economically developing countries. Colorectal cancer (CRC) is rare in developing countries, but is the second most frequent malignancy in affluent societies. In Europe, each year more than 450,000 people are diagnosed with colorectal cancer and about 230,000 will die of the disease.
Incidence rates are rapidly increasing in several areas historically at low risk, including Spain, and a number of countries within Eastern Europe. Notably, rates among males in the Czech Republic have already exceeded the peak of incidence observed in the United States, where rates are declining or stabilizing. Such unfavorable trends are thought to reflect a combination of factors including changes in dietary patterns, obesity, and an increased prevalence of smoking.
While colorectal cancer death rates have been decreasing in several Western countries, largely resulting from improved treatment and increased awareness and early detection, rates continue to increase in many countries with more limited resources and health infrastructure, particularly in Central and Eastern Europe.
These numbers are alarming, since CRC is a highly preventable disease through progressively improved diagnosis and curable in over 90% of cases if diagnosed early.
This is why it is imperative to raise awareness of CRC screening and treatment especially in those countries where rates continue to increase. ECCAM, launched in 2008 by EuropaColon, is helping to achieve that goal. EuropaColon's 21 affiliate and associate groups across Europe including Spain, Czech Republic and Poland are carrying out numerous public activities during the month of March to raise the profile of CRC prevention and treatment in the media, the public and at political level.
"It is alarming to see CRC incidence and death numbers rising at high speed in many European countries, whilst decreasing in others, reflecting the differences in screening and treatment in Europe in a dramatic way," says Jola Gore-Booth, Founder and CEO of EuropaColon. "The activities during ECCAM undertaken by our local organizations help to inform more people across Europe about prevention, screening and access to best treatment and care. We call on politicians, clinicians, industry and media to support these initiatives in order to save lives from this threatening disease."
About EuropaColon:
Founded by Jola Gore-Booth in 2004, EuropaColon is the first European umbrella organization dedicated to colorectal cancer. It aims to unite patients, caregivers, healthcare professionals, politicians, the media and the public in the fight against the disease. EuropaColon is currently represented in 21 countries in Europe and has been acknowledged as the voice of colorectal cancer patients in the EU Parliament in Brussels, Belgium.
For constant updates on the activities of EC's affiliate and associate group please visit:
Address: EuropaColon (headquarter): 94 Wilton Road, Salisbury, SP27JJ, United Kingdom
References:
Jemal A et al, Global Cancer Statistics, CA CANCER J CLIN 2011;61:69-90,
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.3322/caac.20107/full
Ferlay J et al, Estimates of worldwide burden of cancer in 2008: GLOBOCAN Int J Cancer, 2008, http://globocan.iarc.fr/factsheet.asp
Jola Gore-Booth
Tel: +447990972650
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