Increased investment in radiotherapy will improve cure rates for European cance...( taff) had resulted in substantial impro...),Health

taff) had resulted in substantial improvements. "Recent figures show improved cure rates across a range of cancers in the UK which is, in part, due to improved availability and access to treatment". "Overall though, in many countries of the European Union a high proportion of patients requiring radiotherapy receive their treatment not within what oncologists would agree is an acceptable time," explained Prof. Baumann. "This under-use of radiotherapy reflects the lack of availability of linear accelerators and trained staff to operate them".

"On behalf of the 6,000 European radiation oncologists that ESTRO represents, we would urge European health ministries to move quickly to allocate sufficient resources to make sure that all patients eligible for radiotherapy are treated in a timely manner, according to accepted guidelines", said Prof. Baumann. "Radiotherapy is a cost-effective and proven treatment for cancer that can cure and reduce suffering in hundreds of thousands of patients in Europe each year. It is critical that funds are allocated to ensure that patients receive the best care possible and the best opportunity of surviving their disease".

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Contact: Stuart Bell
stuart@fecs.be
32-2-775-0207
Federation of European Cancer Societies
26-Oct-2004

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