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Europa Donna Press Release
02/10/13
EUROPA DONNA Press Release 2 October 2013
EUROPA DONNA ? THE EUROPEAN BREAST CANCER COALITION CALLS FOR OPTIMUM BREAST CANCER SERVICES AT THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE IN STRASBOURG
Parallel Breast Cancer Exhibition held, and a report for a Resolution on Breast Cancer in development
In response to an invitation to share vital information on breast cancer at the Council of Europe, EUROPA DONNA – The European Breast Cancer Coalition participated in a Breast Cancer Exhibition at the Council of Europe in Strasbourg on 2 October. Posters on breast cancer incidence and mortality were displayed, and EUROPA DONNA pamphlets and its Short Guide to the European Guidelines for Quality Assurance in Breast Cancer Screening and Diagnosis were distributed to parliamentarians throughout the day. EUROPA DONNA Executive Director Susan Knox gave a speech on the need for optimum breast cancer care for all women across Europe. She reminded parliamentarians from the Council of Europe’s 47 member countries of the need for guideline-standard population-based screening programmes, specialist breast units and recognised accreditation of breast cancer services.
“Our Coalition has 46 member countries, 40 of which are Council of Europe Member States. Our advocates are active across the continent and in the last 5 years we have seen a distinct improvement in breast cancer services, as well as an increased awareness of the contents of the European Guidelines for Quality Assurance in Breast Cancer Screening and Diagnosis. However, much remains to be achieved in many countries to ensure that women receive equal, high-quality care. We call on the national MPs present to see that this message reaches their governments,” Ms Knox said.
Stella Kyriakides, MP Cyprus, Council of Europe member and Past President of EUROPA DONNA, has successfully put forward a Motion for a Resolution at the Council of Europe on optimum breast cancer services and is the rapporteur for the report that will be developed and debated at the Council of Europe in 2014.
Ms Knox and Mrs Kyriakides reiterated their messages in interviews that the Council of Europe has now posted on its YouTube channel (Please see http://youtu.be/Q_U8aFE5O7Y and http://youtu.be/h-wNgiHD26c ).
In the European Union, two European Parliament Breast Cancer Resolutions and a further Declaration on Breast Cancer call on member states to establish optimum breast cancer care standards. The Resolution of 2006 calls on the member states to introduce nation-wide breast screening, whereby all women aged 50 to 69 are offered a mammogram in line with EU guidelines at 2-year intervals. It also calls for specialist breast units to be set up by 2016 across the EU, progress reports to be provided every 2 years, training of health professionals, guidelines for breast care nurses, and accreditation guidelines for breast units. Ms Knox also told parliamentarians about the Coalition’s involvement in the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre project to develop the first voluntary accreditation scheme for breast cancer services in the EU.
In discussing the Resolution, Mrs Kyriakides said, “All 28 EU member states are also members of the Council of Europe. There is an overlapping need to reach these goals and to spread them across all the Council of Europe Member States as well. We hope to achieve this through the Council of Europe Resolution on optimum breast cancer services that is now in development.”
International Agency for Research on Cancer estimates indicate that in Europe one in 10 women may develop breast cancer before they reach the age of 80, while an average of 20-30% of breast cancers occur in women under 50 years of age. According to the World Health Organisation, high-quality mammography screening, i.e. regular invitations to women to undergo free, voluntary mammography and follow-up diagnoses as part of an organised population-based regional or national programme, can reduce breast-cancer mortality in women aged between 50 and 69 by up to 35%.
About EUROPA DONNA
EUROPA DONNA – The European Breast Cancer Coalition – is an independent, non-profit organisation whose members are affiliated groups from countries throughout Europe. EUROPA DONNA works to raise public awareness of breast cancer and to mobilise the support of European women in pressing for improved breast cancer education, appropriate screening, optimal treatment and care and increased funding for research. Member countries currently number 46.
About the Council of Europe
The Council of Europe is the continent’s leading human rights organisation. It is an international organisation in Strasbourg which comprises 47 countries of Europe. It was set up to promote democracy and protect human rights and the rule of law in Europe. (For more information: www.coe.int)
Contact information:
EUROPA DONNA – The European Breast Cancer Coalition
Piazza Amendola, 3
20149 Milan
Italy
Tel: +39 02 3659 2280
Fax: +39 02 3659 2284
Email: info@europadonna.org
Website: www.europadonna.org
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