Europa Uomo members in Hungary and Italy launch testing programmes
Europa Uomo member organisations have been working to raise awareness of prostate cancer – and in particular the need for screening programmes – during the autumn and the "Movember" campaign.
The Hungarian League of Cancer, alongside the Hungarian Urological Society, is running a national campaign encouraging men over 50 or at higher risk to have PSA tests, and is planning to screen about 3,000 men in more than 40 locations around the country. To date, more than 1,500 men have been enrolled and tested as a result of the campaign (pictured), which was also subject of a press conference and a panel discussion at the Hungarian Urological Society conference.
All men who are given a PSA test as part of the programme are given a card with details of the Europa Uomo chatbot, accessible through the Europa Uomo website, which gives accurate answers to question about all aspects of prostate cancer.
Meanwhile Europa Uomo Italia Onlus has played a major role in developing a new free prostate cancer screening programme for men over 50 living in the region of Lombardy. The pilot was launched on 1stNovember and will later be extended to all Italian men. To mark the event, Lombardy government buildings were lit in blue and Europa Uomo Italia Onlus President Claudio Talmelli participated in a launch press conference.
On 6th November, Europa Uomo Italia Onlus launched a digital awareness campaign named “It's easier than you think”, drawing attention to how little time it takes to get tested for prostate cancer. The online campaign will last throughout November. Claudio Talmelli also spoke in Rome at the first national men’s health day, established by the Ministry of Health. On 22nd November, Europa Uomo Italia Onlus is also conducting a webinar on “Familiarity and Prostate Cancer” which will be streamed on Facebook and YouTube channels.
Other Movember activity by Europa Uomo member organisations includes:
Netherlands
ProstaatKankerStichting in the Netherlands has launched an awareness campaign titled “Talk (not too late) about your prostate!” centred around a short film, publicised widely on social media and roadside adverts and being shown in the waiting rooms of a number of GP practices across the Netherlands. The campaign is also being featured by a number of regional and national broadcasters.
Portugal
During November, Associação Portuguesa de Doentes da Próstata (APDProstata) will benefit from the revenue of selected bar drinks and restaurant desserts sold at a hotel chain, which is also promoting prostate health among their clients and employees. The association will also be making three presentations on prostate health to employees at Volkswagen Autoeuropa, the biggest car makers in Portugal.
Spain
One of Europa Uomo's Spanish member organisations, FEFOC, presented a webinar on prostate cancer and will be raising funds through the sale of its book on prostate cancer in heterosexual, gay and bisexual men.
Austria
Leopold Pecenka, Chairman of the Austrian prostate cancer patients’ organisation Selbsthilfe Prostatakrebs, has been interviewed in the national media about prostate cancer and will give a presentation at the “Cancer School” online event organised by the Comprehensive Cancer Center in Vienna.
Switzerland
Europa Uomo Switzerland has worked as part of a urological working group to put prostate cancer issues on the department of health agenda. In October, it participated in the Expo50plus event in Zurich, presenting information about prostate cancer to some of the 40,000 visitors. It has also produced detailed brochures about local and advanced prostate cancer and gave a presentation at the urological working group’s meeting on the establishment of organised, population-based screening.