A strong, smart and kind Europe needed to overcome cancer

“It is time for the Council Recommendation on Cancer Screening, adopted in 2003 to be revised. Science has made a lot of progress over the past years and new knowledge must be taken into consideration. In this regard, the introduction of prostate cancer screening along with that for breast, cervix and colon must be considered.” MEP Francis Zammit Dimech made these remarks during the Prostate Cancer Europe Roundtable organised by the International Centre for Parliamentary Studies (ICPS).

Zammit Dimech, who is a member of the MEPs against Cancer, was invited to address policy makers, academics, scientists, consultants and other professionals in the field. The roundtable was organised to analyse the current policy framework of prostate cancer in the EU and Member States, to discuss how to improve prevention, early diagnosis and treatment, and to foster research, innovation and drugs development.

According to the European Association of Urology, prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers in men across Europe, with 417,000 new cases and 92,000 deaths each year. According to recent data, Malta has, last year, experienced 293 new cases of prostate cancer and 43 deaths.

Zammit Dimech said that deaths due to prostate cancer have been also linked to lack of awareness, and that such trend had to be reversed through educational campaigns. He also spoke about the need to promote a healthy lifestyle, and how this had to be a European way of life. He added, “Whilst investment in research is crucial and something we are pushing for at EU level, we need to also ensure adequate exchange of information through cancer registers across the EU. Through a strong, smart and kind Europe we can overcome this disease.”

Zammit Dimech recalled how the EPP Group and Manfred Weber, the EPP’s Candidate for President of the European Commission, were committed to make the fight against cancer as a top priority in the upcoming legislature. He reiterated his determination to keep on working on health related matters throughout European Parliament's next parliamentary term.

Zammit Dimech has signed the EU pledge for prostate cancer calling for considering screening of prostate cancer, increase in prostate cancer research and awareness campaigns on prostate cancer. Earlier on this year, MEP Zammit Dimech launched 30 proposals to step up the fight against cancer. One of the proposals called on the government to consider introducing population-based screening for prostate cancer.

Prof. Hendrik Van Poppel from the European Association of Urology (EUA) thanked MEP Zammit Dimech for his support for the cause, and for following cancer closely as an MEP. Present for the roundtable was also Helen Attard Bason, Uro-Oncological Practice Nurse Navigator from the Sir Anthony Mamo Oncology Centre of Malta.