The Power of Patient Voice: A United Europe Against Colorectal Cancer

LONDON and BARCELONA, Spain, June 1, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --

- 1st European Patient Conference to Rally the Citizens of Europe in the Fight Against the Killer Disease

The European Colorectal Cancer Patient Conference (CCPC) is the first collaborative, multidisciplinary event of its kind in Europe and supported by cancer advocates and key opinion leaders across Europe and the globe. Europe's fastest growing CRC patient initiative europacolon invites patients from across Europe as well as their relatives, self-help groups, healthcare workers and medical experts to attend this most significant event.

CCPC will take place in Barcelona on 24th and 25th of June 2011 alongside the ESMO 13th World Congress on Gastrointestinal Cancer. The aim of the conference is to inspire and motivate delegates to ACTION changes in their countries that support equal access to high quality prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care for all citizens of Europe.

Now is the right time for europacolon's CALL FOR ACTION as cancer of the colon and rectum is the second most common malignancy in Europe: Over 413,000 people are newly diagnosed with colorectal cancer every year and more than 212,000 patients per year die of the disease. Yet colorectal cancer is preventable in many cases and highly treatable if diagnosed early. It is critical that the citizens of Europe are accurately and responsibly informed about this disease. Good cancer care starts with good cancer information. Informed patients are their own best advocates and invaluable partners for clinicians.

This annual CRC advocate event organized by europacolon and supported by Mr Pavel Poc, MEP, Czech Republic, also aims to create a stronger commitment from governments across Europe to improve and action changes in healthcare where needed. Together with its partners, the WHO, LIVESTRONG and Global Colon Cancer, europacolon will raise awareness for the need of National Cancer Plans, Formal Population Screening Programmes and equity of access to best treatments and care.

In the name of europacolon, I invite you to attend the first European Colorectal Cancer Patient Conference "The Power of Patient Voice-The Challenges, Collaboration and Change" to learn more about the disease and the issues surrounding:

    
    Dates:     Friday, 24th, & Saturday, 25th June 2011
    Location:  Centro de Convenciones Internacional de Barcelona
               International Convention Centre of Barcelona
               Rambla de Prim 1-17 in 08019 Barcelona/Spain 
               (http://www.ccib.es)
               Interviews are available now with the following speakers:
               Jola Gore-Booth, Founder & Director of europacolon
               Eric Van Cutsem, Medical Director europacolon
               Hedwig Neesen, Director europacolon & CRC survivor

    Yours sincerely,
    Jola Gore-Booth
    Director europacolon
    mobile: +44-7-990972650
    e-mail: jola@europacolon.com

Please find the detailed conference programme at http://www.europacolon.com. For interviews and further information please contact Katrin Lewandowski from ipse Communication via phone +49-30-288846-14 or e-mail to k.lewandowski@ipse.de.