In the EU, more than two million people are living with prostate cancer, the most frequently diagnosed cancer among men.1 Diagnosis rates for prostate cancer are increasing2 and it is estimated that around 450,000 new cases were diagnosed in Europe in 2018, compared to an estimated 345,000 new cases in 2012.3, 4 Each year, prostate cancer accounts for around 25% of all new male cancers5 and 10% of male cancer deaths, with over 107,000 people estimated to have died from the disease in 2018.3
People with prostate cancer often report existing unmet needs. These relate particularly to a lack of adequate patient information as well as of access to cancer specialist nurses, tailored supportive care and psychological support around the impact of treatment.6, 7
Prostate cancer and its treatment not only affect urinary, sexual and bowel function but also energy and performance in physical and social roles and thereby significantly impact on patients' quality of life.8 The later prostate cancer is diagnosed, the more severely quality of life can be affected.9 Ensuring early detection and diagnosis is therefore vital for enabling those affected to potentially have an improved quality of life.9
Behind these facts and figures are real people facing the challenges associated with prostate cancer, together with their families and carers.
About the Digital Atlas
The LTPC Digital Atlas brings together data from a wide range of sources, providing a visual and interactive platform to compare prostate cancer incidence, mortality, survival, medicines expenditure and cancer care spending across the EU. The country profiles provide an overview of the specific outcomes for that country, details of the prostate cancer care pathway as set out within the national clinical guidelines for prostate cancer, as well as a list of the main prostate cancer patient organisations.
The Atlas shows the variance between EU countries in terms of the political and clinical approach to supporting prostate cancer patients. We believe this variance must be reduced, and that all European countries and policymakers should work together to ensure that every patient in Europe receives the right treatment at the right time and a care and support programme tailored to their needs.
About the Let’s Talk Prostate Cancer Campaign
The Let’s Talk Prostate Cancer (LTPC) Expert Group brings together stakeholders from key organisations in the field of prostate cancer and is chaired by Members of the European Parliament, Juozas Olekas, Irena Joveva, and Sirpa Pietikäinen.
The Expert Group works to raise awareness of the challenges faced by people with prostate cancer in Europe and brings together EU level stakeholders with a shared interest in promoting policy change, education and awareness to ensure that people with prostate cancer, and particularly those with advanced prostate cancer, receive the right treatment and care at the right time in a shared decision-making process between patients and medical professionals.
How to use this toolkit
This digital toolkit allows you to compare prostate cancer outcomes across European countries according to incidence, survival, mortality, spending and medicines uptake.
By clicking on the tabs at the top of the page, you will be taken to the relevant data source. By clicking on the interactive map on the landing page, you can access the individual country profiles to access country specific prostate cancer outcomes. The data for each of the graphs can be downloaded, including the publicly available source of the information.
The patient stories section sets out the real-life experiences of men affected by prostate cancer across Europe, together with their hopes and dreams.
The LTPC campaign section provides an overview of the position papers and the policy recommendations developed by the Expert Group to help address the challenges faced by people with advanced prostate cancer across Europe.
References
1
Van Poppel, H et al. Prostate Cancer: Recommendations to lower the risk and mortality of the most frequent cancer in men. European Association of Urology. 2018. Accessible at https://uroweb.org/wp-content/uploads/EAU_WhitePaper_PCa_final.pdf (last accessed September 2020)
2
Bray, F and Kiemeney, LA. Epidemiology of Prostate Cancer in Europe: Patterns, Trends and Determinants. 2017. Management of Prostate Cancer pp 1-27
3
Ferlay, J et al. Cancer incidence and mortality patterns in Europe: Estimates for 40 countries and 25 major cancers in 2018. European Journal of Cancer. 2018; 103:356-387
4
European Commission. Epidemiology of prostate cancer in Europe. 2018. Centre of Parliamentary Studies. Accessible at https://ec.europa.eu/jrc/en/publication/epidemiology-prostate-cancer-europe (last accessed September 2020)
5
Health and Environmental Alliance (HEAL). Health costs in the European Union: How much is related to EDCS? 2014. Accessible at https://www.env-health.org/IMG/pdf/18062014_final_health_costs_in_the_european_union_how_much_is_realted_to_edcs.pdf (last accessed September 2020)
6
Kandasamy, S et al. Prostate Cancer Patient Perspectives on the Use of Information in Treatment Decision-Making: A Systematic Review and Qualitative Meta-synthesis. 2017. Ontario Healthy Technology Assessment Series. 2017;17(7):1-32
7
King, A J L et al. Prostate cancer and supportive care: a systematic review and qualitative synthesis of men's experiences and unmet needs. 2015. European Journal of Cancer Care. 2015; 24(5):618-634
8
Eton, D and Lepore, S. Prostate Cancer and health-related Quality of Life: A review of the literature. 2002. Psychooncology. 2002; 11(4):307-326
9
Van Poppel, H et al. Policy Paper on PSA Screening for Prostate Cancer. European Association of Urology. 2019. Accessible at http://epad.uroweb.org/wp-content/uploads/EAU_policy-briefing_PSA.pdf (last accessed September 2020)
Astellas Pharma Inc., Amgen Inc., and Pfizer Inc. support the goals and objectives of the Let's Talk Prostate Cancer Expert Group. The activities of the Expert Group are funded by Astellas Pharma Europe Ltd. and Amgen Inc.
