1. EUROPA UOMO / Did You Know? Xmas Suppl./2014 1
As the Holiday Season is upon
us, we find ourselves reflecting on
the past year and on those who
have helped us shape our
organisation.
We value our relationship with you
and look forward to working with
you in the year to come.
Europa Uomo wishes you a
Happy Christmas and a New
Year filled with Peace and
Prosperity
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Contents
p.1 Greetings and News from the Chairman
p.2 Keep up to date on new trials, treatment
and cures
p.3 EMUC – EUomo’s Strategic Board
meeting
The Newsletter did the trick
p.4 European Code Against Cancer: 12 ways
to reduce your cancer risk
p.5 The Europa Uomo New Year’s Resolution
Greetings and News from the
Chairman
Ken Mastris, Chairman Europa Uomo
Dear Friends and fellow Ambassadors
It’s a great honour and privilege to serve you
as Chairman of Europa Uomo, the voice of
prostate cancer patients in Europe. It has
proved a steep learning curve to fully
understand the complexity of treatment in
Europe. I would like to thank you, the Board,
Louis Denis and Anja Vancauwenbergh for
the support given to me since my election in
London. I would also like to thank our
partners for making me feel welcomed into
the arena. I would naturally like to thank my
own organisation TACKLE and my fellow
Trustees and CEO for their help and support.
Newsletter of the 23 European member Forums dedicated to improving knowledge of cancer of the prostate
Did You Know?
Xmas Supplement 2014
2. EUROPA UOMO / Did You Know? Xmas Suppl./2014 2
At our first Board meeting it was agreed that
openness and transparency shall be the
priorities of EUomo. It was clear to me that
we needed to have a strategic seminar to
review our mission, vision, objectives and to
formulate our business plan to assist us in
fund-raising over the next few years. We
therefore agreed to cancel the masterclass
event for this year and plan for a symposium
and General Assembly in Poland sometime in
June 2014. So watch out for further details.
In November we completed the first stage of
our plans and the Board and ex-officio’s
agreed on the following aspects:
Vision
• A future where no man suffers or dies
from prostate cancer
Mission
• To work for all prostate cancer patients in
Europe, under one umbrella, for better
treatment, care and quality of life.
• To support national organisations to
supply effective and efficient services
perfectly in line with national priorities.
Objectives
• Ensure patients and their families get
access to the best possible treatment and
care
• Ensure the sustainability of Europa Uomo
• Improve the capacity of member
organisations to deliver their services
• Increase the membership of Europa Uomo
• Improve the early detection of prostate
cancer
• Raise awareness of prostate cancer
• Contribute to the decision making
processes of relevant EU institutions
The Board also agreed to ask Louis Denis to
be our strategic consultant to develop our
European network and increase our profile.
Further meetings will be held in 2015 to
continue the hard work.
I would like to thank Malcolm Duncan for his
initiative and hard work on the Newsletter
which shows that the Board is transparent in
its workings. This Newsletter has been well
received by members and professional
bodies alike. Keep the articles coming in! It is
a wonderful way to exchange experiences
and learn from one another in the struggle to
improve prostate cancer care. With the aim
of assuring a full understanding of your
organisation by the Board I will shortly be
asking for details in a separate
communication.
I therefore look forward in meeting some of
you in Poland in June next year 2015.
Finally, I send you and your families my most
sincere greetings for the festive season and
wish you all a happy and healthy NEW YEAR -
Enjoy Christmas.
Keep up to date on new trials,
treatments and cures
The 2015 issues of the Newsletter will
attempt to keep its readers well informed on
new treatments and cures as well as testing
under way. The European clinical trials
register now encompasses all clinical trials
due to the EU law passing the parliament on
3rd
April 2014. EUomo and its members
passionately supported the petition „ALL
CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTERED/RESULTS
REPORTED” which was causative for the EU
parliament decision. Here you find
information about the concept of the
community clinical trials register
https://eudract.ema.europa.eu/ and there
are the specific information on prostate
cancer trials
https://www.clinicaltrialsregister.eu/ctr-
search/search?query=prostate+cancer
3. EUROPA UOMO / Did You Know? Xmas Suppl./2014 3
EMUC – EUomo’s Strategic Board
meeting
Lisbon, Portugal – November 13-16, 2014
Joaquim da Cruz Domingos, Portugal
Following a decision of the Europa Uomo
Board, the Lisbon meeting was dedicated
almost exclusively to the preparation of a
Strategic Plan in order to find the right
directions for some of the problems and
issues currently being faced by many national
member associations and thus successfully
achieve the chief goals and objectives of
EUomo which have already been clearly
defined. During two hard working days, one
by one, most of the existing barriers were
tackled, and we are now more able to look
ahead in such a way that promises success.
Next year’s activities plan was also discussed
in detail and only some minor points still
need to be defined.
Early in 2015, the Board will announce the
main activities scheduled in the Strategic Plan
and the Board is sure that all associate
members will assure their full and
enthusiastic participation which will
guarantee its success.
The composition of the Board and invitees who
discussed the forthcoming preparation of a
medium and long term Strategic Plan.
L-R: Ken Mastris (Chairman), Malcolm Duncan
(Editor Newsletter & Board member), Jean
Mossman (consultant/facilitator), Max Lippuner
(Secretary), Louis Denis (Strategic Consultant),
Tor Tausvik (Vice-Chairman), Ekke Büchler (Vice-
Chairman), Erik Briers (Ex-Officio member)
Günter Feick (Ex-Officio member), Joaquim
Domingos (webmaster) and Christian Arnold
(Treasurer).
The Newsletter did the trick
Malcolm Galloway Duncan
The enthusiastic response of member
associations to the recent launching of the
Newsletter has convinced the Board that we
can now aim for a regular quarterly issue plus
some short monthly supplements containing
communications by our chairmen, Ken
Mastris, and important news like new
treatments and cures approved by the
Clinical Trials Register.
This regular exchange of news on the
activities of our 23 national member
associations will surely favour closer co-
operation, prove of reciprocal benefit by an
exchange of knowledge on our individual
initiatives, problems and success in their
resolution. The French Anamacap and the
Slovakian associations have already achieved
official recognition in their respective
countries and Denmark, already abounding in
4. EUROPA UOMO / Did You Know? Xmas Suppl./2014 4
membership vis-à-vis the modest dimensions
of its population, now aims to achieve at
least 25% of prostate cancer patients
members of their PROPA association. The
British Tackle association now tops the
number of members and thanks to its
sporting event “A Shining Night Walk” has
already collected £13.5 million for cancer
research after only three annual events. This
year they plan to collect a further £4.7
million.
The Newsletter enabled us to spread the
news of new trials thanks to the Clinical Trials
Register. This is wonderful news for both
physicians and patients.
Sharing ideas and experience will surely
contribute to the establishment of Multi-
Disciplinary Centres in which, at the moment,
Germany excels with 96 such centres of
excellence located throughout the country
and to which prostate cancer patients are
advised to refer to. The Irish MAC has done
much to humanize the treatment of prostate
cancer patients by accepting invitations by
hospital nurses to visit and talk to the
patients accommodated in their prostate
cancer wards. Following the same line of
thought, Finland has stressed the importance
of the quality of life of prostate patients and
Austria has stressed the concept that
“Everyday life is precious”.
A regular exchanges of ideas and experience
by means of the Newsletter will surely help
associations to deal with problems relating to
national political and health authorities as
well as potential sponsors.
The Newsletter has also undoubtedly
contributed to the recent decision by the
Board to establish a short, medium and long
term Strategic Plan with the adoption of A
New Approach. This will undoubtedly assign
an important role to all member associations
and not just to those fortunate enough to
have a member on the Board. One crucial
problem which requires thought and
consideration is a lack of the necessary
financial funds of several national member
associations in order to successfully achieve
their established goals and programmes.
May all your
Christmas wishes
come true!
European Code Against Cancer
12 ways to reduce your cancer
risk
International Agency for Research on Cancer
(IARC)
1. Do not smoke. Do not use any form of
tobacco.
2. Make your home smoke free. Support
smoke-free policies in your workplace.
3. Take action to have a healthy body weight.
4. Be physically active in everyday life. Limit
the time you spend sitting.
5. Have a healthy diet:
Eat plenty of whole grains, pulses,
vegetables and fruits
Limit high-calorie foods (foods high in sugar
or fat) and avoid sugary drinks
Avoid processed meat; limit red meat and
foods high in salt
6. If you drink alcohol of any type, limit your
intake. Not drinking alcohol is better for
cancer prevention.
7. Avoid too much sun, especially for
children. Use sun protection. Do not use
sunbeds.
5. EUROPA UOMO / Did You Know? Xmas Suppl./2014 5
8. In the workplace, protect yourself against
cancer-causing substances by following
health and safety instructions.
9. Find out if you are exposed to radiation
from naturally high radon levels in your
home. Take action to reduce high radon
levels.
10. For women:
Breastfeeding reduces the mother’s cancer
risk. If you can, breastfeed your baby.
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT)
increases the risk of certain cancers. Limit
use of HRT.
11. Ensure your children take part in
vaccination programmes for:
Hepatitis B (for newborns)
Human papillomavirus (HPV) (for girls)
12. Take part in organized cancer screening
programmes for:
Bowel cancer (men and women)
Breast cancer (women)
Cervical cancer (women)
The European Code Against Cancer focuses
on actions that individual citizens can take to
help prevent cancer. Successful cancer
prevention requires these individual actions
to be supported by governmental policies and
actions.
Find out more about the European Code
Against Cancer at: http://cancer-code-
europe.iarc.fr
EUROPA UOMO Secretariat
Lange Gasthuisstraat 35-37
2000 Antwerp – Belgium
Tel: +32 3 338 91 51 - Fax: +32 3 338 91 52
E-mail: europauomo@skynet.be
Website: www.europa-uomo.org
The Europa Uomo New Year’s
Resolution
Prof. Louis Denis, Strategic Consultant Europa
Uomo
In the spirit of enlightment we aim for a free
democratic system of governance, equality
for all European citizens and solidarity in
progress.
From the above figures you can see the mean
(average) life expectation from the day you
were born in the different countries of the
European Union.
The figures range from 77.4 to 82.4-83.4
years, from full red to dark green. In Flemish
but easy to understand.
With the difference between East and West
you can understand why our strategic
program 2015 sees the greening of all union
countries as a priority.
Our 2015 resolution aims to redress this
imbalance in part by improving treatment
and care of their male citizens with prostate
diseases. We cannot hope to do this alone
but we certainly will do our best in a broad
front with our professional partners, the
European health authorities and our
sponsors.
All our best wishes for a peaceful Xmas and a
prosperous New 2015.
6. EUROPA UOMO / Did You Know? Xmas Suppl./2014 6
Half a million new cancers in
2012 due to overweight and
obesity
Proportion of obesity-related
cancers higher in women
International Agency for Research on Cancer
(IARC)
Lyon, France, 26 November 2014 - A new
study by the International Agency for
Research on Cancer (IARC), the specialized
cancer agency of the World Health
Organization (WHO), shows that nearly half a
million new cancer cases per year can be
attributed to high body mass index (BMI)1.
The study, published today in The Lancet
Oncology, highlights that overweight and
obesity2 have become a major risk factor,
responsible for an estimated 3.6% (481.000)
of all new cancer cases in 2012.
Striking global disparities
Global analysis shows that cancer due to
overweight and obesity is currently far more
common in more developed countries
(393.000 cases, 5.2% of all new cancer cases
in these countries) than in less developed
countries (88.000 cases, 1.5% of all new
cancer cases in these countries). North
America remains the most affected, with an
estimated 111.000 obesity-related cancers in
2012, accounting for 23% of the total global
cancer burden linked to high BMI.
In Europe, the proportion of cancers due to
overweight and obesity is also large,
particularly in eastern Europe (65.000 cases,
6.5% of all new cancer cases in the region).
Overall, the countries with the highest cancer
burden attributable to overweight and
obesity in men are the Czech Republic (5.5%
of the country’s new cancer cases), Jordan
(4.5%), the United Kingdom (4.4%), and
Malta (4.4%). Among women, Barbados
(12.7%), the Czech Republic (12.0%), and
Puerto Rico (11.6%) are most affected. In the
USA, one of the largest contributors of global
cancers associated with high BMI, 3.5% and
9.5% of the country’s new cancer cases are
linked to excess body weight in men and
women, respectively.
Although in most Asian countries the
proportion of cancers associated with
overweight and obesity is not large, it still
translates into a considerable absolute
number of cases, due to the large population
size. For example, in China, about 50.000
cancer cases in women and men are
associated with overweight and obesity,
accounting for 1.6% of the country’s new
cancer cases. In contrast, the contribution of
overweight and obesity to cancer burden
remains low in Africa (7.300 cases, 1.5% of all
new cancer cases in the continent).
“Overall, we see that while the number of
cancer cases associated with overweight and
obesity remains highest in richer countries,
similar effects are already visible in parts of
the developing world,” says Dr Isabelle
Soerjomataram, one of the study’s leading
authors and the project’s principal
investigator.
Women are more affected
High BMI is a known risk factor for cancers of
the oesophagus, colon, rectum, kidney,
pancreas, gallbladder, postmenopausal
breast, ovary, and endometrium, as well as
for other noncommunicable diseases,
notably cardiovascular disease and
diabetes3.
The study highlights that the proportion of
cancers related to obesity is higher in women
than in men, with population attributable
fractions of 5.3% and 1.9%, respectively.
“Women are disproportionately affected by
obesity-related cancers,” says IARC’s Dr
Melina Arnold, one of the study’s leading
authors, “For example, for postmenopausal
breast cancer, the most common cancer in
women worldwide, the study suggests that
10% of these cancers could have been
prevented by having a healthy body weight.”
7. EUROPA UOMO / Did You Know? Xmas Suppl./2014 7
Cancers of the endometrium, colon, and
breast account for almost three quarters
(73%) of all cancers linked to high BMI in
women. In men, kidney and colon cancers
together account for two thirds (66%) of all
cancers associated with high BMI.
Potential for prevention
“These worrying results highlight that it’s
crucial to maintain a healthy weight to
prevent so many common cancers,” says Dr
Kate Allen, Executive Director of Science and
Public Affairs at World Cancer Research Fund
International, which funded the project. “In
the United Kingdom, 13.000 cases diagnosed
in 2012 in women (8.2% of all cancers) could
be ascribed to overweight and obesity. It’s
also alarming to see that men in the UK are
fourth in the world in this obesity cancer
league table, with 6.000 cases (4.4% of all
cancers) attributed to being overweight or
obese. Cancer is an epidemic problem, and to
tackle it we need to help people take
measures to be a healthy weight.”
Reducing overweight and obesity at the
population level could have significant health
benefits, including reducing the burden of
cancer. The study also shows that one
quarter of all cancers attributable to
overweight and obesity worldwide (118.000
cases) could have been prevented if
populations had simply maintained their
average BMI of 30 years ago.
“The number of cancers linked to obesity and
overweight is expected to rise globally along
with economic development,” says Dr
Christopher Wild, Director of IARC. “This
study stresses the importance of putting in
place efficient weight control measures, to
curb the high number of cancers associated
with excess body weight and to avoid the
problems faced by rich countries being
repeated in those now undergoing rapid
development.”
Notes
1
BMI is a measure of body fat, calculated by
dividing the weight in kilograms by the
square of the height in metres.
2
WHO defines overweight as a BMI greater
than or equal to 25 kg/m2
, and obesity as a
BMI greater than or equal to 30 kg/m2
.
3
Global status report on noncommunicable
diseases 2010. Geneva, World Health
Organization, 2011.
For more information, please contact
Véronique Terrasse, Communications Group,
at terrassev@iarc.fr
or Dr Nicolas Gaudin, IARC Communications,
at com@iarc.fr
The International Agency for Research on
Cancer (IARC) is part of the World Health
Organization (WHO). Its mission is to
coordinate and conduct research on the
causes of human cancer and the mechanisms
of carcinogenesis, and to develop scientific
strategies for cancer control. The Agency is
involved in both epidemiological and
laboratory research and disseminates
scientific information through publications,
meetings, courses, and fellowships. If you
wish your name to be removed from our
press release emailing list, please write to
com@iarc.fr.
PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE
www.europa-uomo.org
Optimal Treatment
Holistic Care
8. EUROPA UOMO / Did You Know? Xmas Suppl./2014 8
Publication co-sponsored by
“Did You Know?” European Newsletter contacts and email
Austria: Ekkehard Büchler, efb@gmx.com; Belgium: Henk Van daele, henk.vandaele@telenet.be; Bulgaria: Alexander Marinov,
alpemarinov@abv.bg; Cyprus: Andreas Moyseos, andreas.moyseos@cytanet.com.cy; Czech Republic: Dalibor Pacík, dpacik@fnbrno.cz; Denmark:
K.B. Madsen, madsenkb@mail.dk; Finland: Hannu Tavio, hannu.tavio@gmail.com; France: Roland Muntz, info@anamacap.fr.; Germany: Günter
Feick, g-feick@gmx.de; Hungary: Dr. Tamás Simon MD. Ph.D., simon@rakliga.hu; Ireland: John Dowling; johndeclandowling@gmail.com; Italy:
Malcolm Galloway Duncan, mqi@hotmail.co.uk - europauomo.italy@virgilio.it; Lithuania: Zygimantas Kardelis, karzygis@gmail.com; Norway: Tor
Tausvik, tor@tausvik.no; Poland: Tadeusz Rudzinski, stowarzyszenie.gladiator@poctza.fm; Portugal: Joaquim da Cruz Domingos,
cruzdomingos@netcabo.pt; Romania: Toma Catalin Marinescu, rokapros@yahoo.com; Slovak Republic: Josef Blazek, josef.blazek@vsbm.sk –
uomosk.3@gmail.com; Spain: Jordi Estapé, jestape@fefoc.org; Sweden: Calle Waller, calle.waller@partnershipforeurope.se; Switzerland: Max
Lippuner, mlip@bluewin.ch; The Netherlands: Kees van den Berg, voorzitter@prostaatkankerstichting.nl; United Kingdom: Ken Mastris,
ken.mastris@btinternet.com.
