Representatives of prostate patient support groups of 17 European countries defined the burden and action against prostate cancer in the following statement: Prostate cancer is one of the most common men’s cancers in all of Europe. It is estimated that nearly 150,000 new cases appear this year throughout the EU and the number will further rise in years to come. In Europe there are currently more than one million men living with prostate cancer.
New diagnostic methods and changes in men’s attitudes, due to increased awareness of the disease, mean that more and more prostate cancers are found at an early stage, when treatment options are more effective. Prostate cancer is a chronic disease that causes many emotional and social problems to patients and their families. Advances in long-term control of the disease improve both length and quality of life for patients. To control the social burden of the disease and its eventual prevention, increased resources are necessary to ensure continued advances in research and patient care.
For the reasons above, we have listed the following 10 key issues that need constant and determined attention: