The first conference ECPC CEE Learning and Sharing – „Bridging Cancer Care” took place in Bucharest

Citizens of Eastern and Central Europe are 25 per cent more exposed to the risk of dying of cancer before turning 75 years than citizens of Western Europe, because of the problems related to the access to treatment and the quality of the care offered, said the representatives of European Cancer Patient Coalition (ECPC) that organized in Bucharest the first ECPC CEE Learning and Sharing conference – „Bridging Cancer Care”. The conference took place on 27 and 28 December 2010.

Although basic oncological treatment is available in Romania and the waiting time for surgery is usually more reduced than in UK, there are important issues related to the access to treatment and financing, explained Simone Ene, ECPC Vice President.

In Romania, about 430000 people have cancer. 15000 new cases are diagnosed each year and, on average, 57 people are diagnosed with cancer every day, according to Anca Laburnet, Director of the Romanian Cancer Society.

One in three persons in Europe is diagnosed with cancer and the disease kills one in four people. Every day, more than 6000 Europeans are diagnosed with cancer and breast cancer is the most common form of the disease among women, accounting for 30.9% of all cases and 16.7% of cancer deaths in women. Prostate cancer is the most frequent diagnosed form of cancer in men accounting for 24.1% of all cases and 10.4% of cancer deaths in men.

More information available on:
http://www.ecpc-online.org/events-a-calendar/ecpclearning-sharing2010.html