14 October 2009 in Warsaw, on the initiative of the Jolanta Kwaśniewska’s Foundation „Communication without Barriers”, there was held the Symposium organized in order to develop document describing the model of care for child with cancer, common to all European Union countries. Androulla Vassiliou – EU Commissioner for Health, took the honorary patronage over the event. SIOPE – European Association of Pediatrics Oncologists took the patronage.
Symposium participants agreed on key elements of system of care for children with cancer. During the meeting, they postulated the introduction of records to the National Cancer Programs connected with an access to:
• the most effective treatment methods at the time of therapy,
• the centers that have staff and infrastructure to guarantee the best therapeutic effects,
• new medicines for sick children, which involves the introduction of legislative actions,
• Non-commercial clinical examinations, which are basis for progress in the treatment process.
„Every year in Europe, approximately 20,000 children and adolescents aged up to 19 are diagnosed with cancer. Approximately 80% of these patients manage to recover if they use the proper and the best available method of treatment. Modern therapy of children cancer is complex. It requires the involvement of a multidisciplinary treatment team and may cause long-term and adverse effects requiring monitoring the cured patient for whole his life. With the progress of knowledge, it is possible to develop new methods of treatment –less toxic and also more effective. However, it is necessary to create the possibility to introduce these methods to the diagnostic and therapeutic standards.”
– Said, Professor Jerzy Kowalczyk, National Consultant in the Field of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology – author of an output project.
The symposium was attended by leading children oncologists and specialists from several European countries, dealing with issues of cancer treatment, including:
• Jolanta Kwaśniewska – Founder and President of the Foundation „ Communication without Barriers”, the patroness of the European Coalition of Patients with ECPC cancer,
• Elżbieta Pomaska – Founder of the Helping children with cancer Foundation, a member of Ashoka Poland, the mother of a child with the cancer history,
• Prof. Kathy Pritchard-Jones – She was President of the European Association of Pediatrics Oncologists, Cancer Research Institute (Royal Marsden Hospital, Sutton, Great Britain),
• Prof. Gilles Vassal – Member of the European Association of Pediatrics Oncologists, Gustaw Roussy’s Institute (Villejuif, France),
• Prof. Ruth Ladenstein – President of the European Association of Pediatrics Oncologists, Institute of Children with Cancer Research (Vienna, Austria),
• Prof. Jerzy Kowalczyk – National Consultant in the Field of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology (Warsaw, Poland),
• Ewa Jack-Górska – counselor in organizations working for parents of children with cancer, the patient with a history of cancer,
• Jarosław Greser – lawyer, a graduate student of Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznan, trainer specialized in human rights, especially in human rights in business relations,
• Lynn Faulds Wood – President of the European Coalition of patients with cancer.
„I believe that all countries efforts started at the symposium, in the near future will influence on both a significant increase in the number of children and adolescents diagnosed in the early stage of the disease, on the shorter, more effective treatment and a better quality of life during and after undergoing treatment.”– Assessed Jolanta Kwaśniewska, President of the Foundation „Communication without Barriers” – the initiator of the project.
