European Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month
(ECCAM) 2012

SPAIN
EuropaColon - Espana

• EuropaColon � Espana�s key focus for March 2012 was membership recruitment
• During March two meetings were held in Madrid where patients were invited to attend.� The meetings were aimed at trying to find out how patients would like to work with EuropaColon � Espana and how they feel they could benefit from joining the organisation

AUSTRIA
Selbsthilfe Gruppe Darmkreb
Associate Group

• The organisation was asked to present to the Allgemeines Krankenhaus H � General Hospital Nurses group in Vienna� on the work they do and the impact it was having on the citizens of Austria
• They were invited by the Austrian� Health-Ministry to contribute to the new national cancer-registry (Krebsplan)
• Selbsthilfe Gruppe Darmkrebs were also invited to become board members of The Self Help Association Consortium of Austria. "ARGE Selbtshilfe" � whose aim is to combine self-help groups in the social and health sectors to provide a platform to ensure decision-making structures are in place and are effective

NETHERLANDS
SPKS - Foundation for Patients with Cancer of the Digestive System
Associate Patient Group

• During ECCAM 2012 MEPs Wim van de Camp (CDA) and Frieda Brepoels (N-VA) joined forces with the Dutch Foundation against Cancer and the Flemish Organisation Stopdarmkanker to raise awareness of colorectal cancer in the European Parliament
• Around 3000 blue ribbons and campaign leaflets were distributed at the two main entrances to the Parliament. They also mailed 754 MEPs with campaign leaflets
• A press conference was held were a� specially designed blue ribbon by top Flemish designer Tim Van Steenbergen was launched
• At the parliamentary event that followed they launched a brand new online networking platform for colorectal cancer patients called "United Europe Against Colon Cancer".

LATVIA
Soon to join EuropaColon

• A press conference was held on the 14th of March addressing the alarming situation for colorectal cancer patients in Latvia and the restricted access to standard chemotherapy drug treatments.�
• EuropaColon�s Founder/CEO Mrs Jolanta Gore Booth was invited to present on the work of EuropaColon HQ and how patient advocacy groups can influence change.� Mrs Gore-Booth urged the Latvian Health Ministry to review its decision on restricting access to even the most standard chemotherapy drugs
• The press conference was attended by Irina Januma - chairperson of the patient association �VITA�, Janis Eglitis -Chief Oncologist in Latvia, Anatolijs Danilans �Gastroenterologist and invitees from Ministry of Health and Saeima (Latvian Parliament)

FINLAND
Colores
Associate Group

• ECCAM 2012 gave Colores the opportunity to reflect on the advances being made on survival rates for those affected by colorectal cancer through a announcement by Dr Helena� Isoniemi, Chairman of the Board of Colores -� Intestinal Cancer Society of Finland
• During March Colores launched a new book written by Christer Sundqvist a journalist who survived colorectal cancer called �Terve mies sairastuu suolistosy�p��n� � �A Healthy Man becomes ill with Colorectal Cancer�.� All proceeds from the book will go to helping colorectal cancer patients
• The organisation has also created a comic strip highlighting the benefits of colonoscopy
• Colores have also undertaken much work in the advocacy field by forming a cancer network within the Finnish parliament