Every year, an estimated 450,000 men in Europe are diagnosed with prostate cancer, and 107,000 die as a result of the disease. And then there’s the price we all pay: Prostate cancer costs Europeans € 9 billion each year, with healthcare accounting for € 5.8 billion.

Despite this, most European countries still do not have prostate screening programmes in place.

The European Association of Urology, the European Cancer Organisation, Europa Uomo, and the Global Action on Men’s Health are calling on the European Union to address prostate cancer in Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan.

On European Prostate Cancer Awareness Day, experts, policy makers, and patient representatives will gather to explore how public policies can dramatically improve screening and early detection.

The event takes place in the European Parliament on Wednesday 3 September, 14:30-16:00 CEST.

In Northern and Western Europe, prostate cancer is either the leading or second leading cause of cancer death in men. It is the most frequently occurring male cancer across Europe and creates a significant strain on healthcare systems.

Most European countries already have screening programmes for cervical, breast and colorectal cancer. Then, three years ago, the Council of the European Union updated its Cancer Screening Recommendations to include prostate cancer.

There is good evidence that PSA tests and MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) can save lives. But how do we create policies and programmes that make these tests readily available?