MEPs PUSH FOR MORE CANCER-SCREENING COOPERATION

12.00.00am GMT Fri 15th Feb 2008

Shocking differences in the levels of and participation in cancer screening programmes between EU Member States, coupled with figures of 1.1 million EU cancer deaths each year mean the disease must become one of the European Union's public health priorities, according to a local Liberal Democrat MEP.

Liz Lynne this week hosted a meeting of the campaign group MEPs Against Cancer (MAC), of which she is Co-Chair, to assess the current state of cancer screening across the EU.

The MEPs were joined by EU Health Commissioner Markos Kyprianou, leading academics and NGO representatives, and discussed best practice on how to reduce deaths, along with calls for information campaigns and implementation of a 2003 resolution on cancer screening programmes.

Speaking after the event, Liz Lynne said:

"The statistics speak for themselves, cancer screening does save lives but with greater cooperation at EU level and between Member States many more could be saved.

"To ensure this happens, all Member States need to fully implement the EU Council of Ministers Resolution adopted in 2003 which calls for implementation of screening programmes in all Member States.

"Information campaigns are badly needed, so that citizens are more aware of the dangers of cancer, but also of the modern screening programmes that are available and which can save lives.

"All Member States need to do more at national level, to extend and improve their screening programmes and participation in them. However, the individual also has a responsibility. We know for example that screening for cervical cancer can reduce mortality by 60% so the message is simple; if you belong to a risk group or are invited for a test, go; it could save your life."

ENDS

Notes to editors:

Photos: Liz Lynne MEP with EU Health Commissioner Markos Kyprianou at the meeting on cancer screening this week.

Liz Lynne MEP co-founded MEPs against cancer in 2005.

About MAC - MEPs Against Cancer

• MEPs against Cancer is an all-party informal group of fifty-six MEPs committed to promoting action on cancer as an EU priority and harnessing European health policy to that end.

• For more information please visit the MAC website: www.mepsagainstcancer.org

Cancer in Europe: Key facts and figures

• There are more than 2 million new cases and more than 1.1 million cancer deaths in EU each year

• Every day 5214 Europeans are diagnosed with cancer and 3185 die from their disease

• Lung cancer is the commonest form of cancer, followed closely by colorectal cancer

• Lung, colorectal and breast cancer account for two-fifths of the entire European cancer population

• Most of the other cancer are considered rare diseases according to the EU criteria - affecting not more than 5/10,000 people in the EU

• The number of Europeans with cancer will increase dramatically over the next 20 years