2nd europacolon Pan European Affiliates Meeting, 25th - 26th June 2008

World Congress of Gastrointestinal Cancer, Barcelona, Spain

europacolon celebrated the Organisation's 2nd Affiliates/Associates Meeting held at the World Congress of Gastrointestinal Cancer in Barcelona in June of this year. The meeting was hugely successful offering a packed agenda which stimulated much discussion and debate. It was a wonderful opportunity to catch up with old and new friends and discuss individual group challenges and successes.

European Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month March 2008

4th March 2008, European Parliament in Brussels

europacolon celebrated the launch of the first European Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month (ECCAM) on March 2008 with a hugely successful exhibition in the European Parliament in Brussels on 4th, 5th and 6th of March. europacolon were most grateful to have the support of Mr Robert Sturdy MEP who sponsored the exhibition . Mr Sturdy said "I am delighted to be part of this key initiative by europacolon. Too many people currently die of this potentially highly treatable disease, and it is our responsibility to ensure that patients are not left alone in their struggle against colorectal cancer".

European Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month

4th March 2008, Brussels

europacolon is proud to announce the launch of the first European Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month (ECCAM) at the European Parliament - Brussels's . From this year onwards March will trigger activities throughout Europe to help raise awareness of what is the second most common cancer in Europe.

The Burden of Cancer - "How Can it be Reduced" Slovenian Presidency European Cancer Conference organised by the Ministry of Health of Slovenia at the newly built Congress Centre Brdo.

7th to 8th February 2008, Slovenia

europacolon was very privileged to be invited to attend this invitation only conference in Slovenia. Set in the most beautiful surroundings the new Congress Centre is most impressive. This high-level event brought together a very important mix of people from EU policymakers, Member State representatives, Representatives of international organisations to patient organisations. The key issues addressed were an integrated approach to address prevention, early detection, treatment, rehabilitation, palliative care and research.

Europe in Wide Screen

European Parliament

europacolon attended this very important meeting organised by the MEP's Against Cancer and the Parliamentary Magazine. A distinguished panel of speakers highlighted the need to improve EU wide screening. The presentations focused on the strengths and weaknesses of cancer screening across the EU addressing to what extent Member States have implemented cancer screening programmes following the 2003 Council Recommendation on Cancer Screening. On a general level, participants agreed that while cancer screening can save lives, significant disparities in cancer screening remain.

Oncology Summit Europe

30th - 31st January, London

Jola Gore-Booth was invited to speak at this Pharmaceutical Industry Meeting on "How to collaborate effectively with Patient Groups". Following on from a very instructive presentation by Professor Karol Sikora on the "Patchwork of Provision of Cancer Care across a Continent" Jola Gore-Booth demonstrated amongst others how The Not for Profit Sector and Industry have to recognise and respect that we share common objectives and that it is to the advantage of everyone to work together in partnership.

European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Cancer Patient Advocacy Forum

26th - 27th November 2007, Brussels