Colorectal Cancer Patient Conference Programme 2011

Please view the full programme for the 2011 Colorectal Cancer Patient Conference, ‘The Power of Patient Voice – The Challenges, Collaboration and Change!' here

Speakers

Here are profiles of some of the speakers.

Suzanne Lindley CRC Survivor and Advocate - Key Note Speaker CCPC

Suzanne was just 31 years old, when she was diagnosed with stage IV colon cancer after being told she had six months to live. Suzanne didn't accept that verdict and instead she sought out other opinions and began taking the only chemotherapy drug for colon cancer that was available at the time. That was 10 years ago.

Since her diagnosis in 1998, several new treatments for colon cancer have been discovered and she has had them all - the Gamma Knife, Sir-Spheres, Cyberknife, External Beam Radiation and Intrathecal Chemo for spinal metastases. These are foreign words to most people, as they were for Suzanne however she commenced her in-depth research. She had to navigate the complex path of treatment possibilities on her own.

As a result of her experience Suzanne has dedicated her life to fighting for information and access to best treatments for CRC Patients most recently testifying before the House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee Hearing, “Medical Radiation: An Overview of the Issues,” in Washington, D.C.

Professor Eric Van Cutsem

Is currently Professor of Internal Medicine at the University of Leuven (Belgium) and is responsible for the division of Digestive Oncology at the University Hospital Gasthuisberg. He holds the special Chair of Digestive Oncology at the University of Leuven and has a mandate as clinical researcher of the Fund for Scientific Research (FWO). He is also the Medical Director of europacolon and the President of the European Society of Digestive Oncology (ESDO).

Professor Van Cutsem has published more than 200 peer-reviewed articles and more than 350 other texts or chapters in books on gastrointestinal cancer.  He also co-ordinates several European and worldwide trials investigating new drugs for gastrointestinal cancer, serves on many Steering Committee and Advisory Boards and is a member of several  scientific organisations.

He organised the PICC (Perspectives In Colorectal Cancer) meetings in Barcelona and is currently Chair of the Scientific Committee of the World Congress in Gastrointestinal Cancer in Barcelona, in partnership with ESMO since 2005.

Jola Gore-Booth

europacolon, the first Pan European Not for Profit organisation dedicated to colorectal cancer was founded by Jola Gore-Booth in 2004. Fuelled by Jola's passion and vision europacolon has become a valued and respected voice in Europe, working to prevent deaths and improve the quality of life and support for people affected by colorectal cancer.

Jola's vision for europacolon has grown from long-standing experience and an in depth understanding of the needs and challenges faced by people with colorectal cancer. She was Chief Executive of Colon Cancer Concern, a leading colorectal cancer charity in the UK (now known as Bowel Cancer UK) from 1998 until August 2005. A key focus of Jola's current work is to grow the network of patient group organisations and the number of European europacolon affiliates dedicated to colorectal cancer. She also tirelessly campaigns to ensure that governments and other stakeholders prioritise colorectal cancer.

Professor Jose Martin-Moreno

Prof. Jose M Martin-Moreno is the Director of Programme Management (DPM) at the WHO Regional Office for Europe.  

Since concluding his extensive medical education and training at the University of Granada (MD, PhD) and Harvard University, where he earned an MPH and a Doctorate in Public Health, Dr. Martin-Moreno's career has been devoted to Public Health and Epidemiology, fields in which he has held a number of prominent posts. These include a term as Chief Medical Officer of Spain and Director of the Health Technology Assessment Agency and Deputy-Director General of the National Institute of Health Carlos III. His research on cardiovascular disease, cancer and palliative care have afforded him a strong background in non-communicable disease epidemiology, but he has also controlled outbreaks and emergencies, having a broad Public Health view which has proving an invaluable resource in his current work supporting the Regional Director of the WHO Regional Office for Europe. He also holds a professorship at the University of Valencia in preventive medicine and public health as well as a senior associate position in the Department of Epidemiology at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.