Stronger Together against Liver Cancer!

Digestive Cancers Europe (DiCE) and the European Liver Patients Association (ELPA) Start Official Partnership

Today, Digestive Cancers Europe (DiCE) and the European Liver Patients Association (ELPA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding. The agreement brings about a formidable and active patient advocacy partnership that allows the two organisations to put their joint efforts behind bettering the outcomes and quality of life of liver patients across Europe. Every year, 83,000 citizens get diagnosed with liver cancer in Europe and 76,000 (91.5%) of them die. In countries currently applying best practices, more than 20% of patients survive.

“Our organisations have similar and complementary goals of contributing to early diagnosis, advocating best practices in public health and treatment, improving the quality of life for patients, and saving lives from liver cancer,” says Stefan Gijssels, DiCE Chief Executive Officer, “This agreement allows us to be a stronger force for liver cancer patient advocacy and support projects in working towards these common goals.”

“Indeed, as two European umbrella patient organisations, ELPA and DiCE can now work together pulling on the strength of our 60 plus collective Member organisations,” reflects Marko Korenjak, ELPA President. “Together with this impressive platform we will conduct joint activities in the areas of raising awareness and health policy at the European level, while encouraging local member groups of both organisations to start developing patient support for liver cancer patients and carers throughout their journey.”

Starting this month, the two organisations will work hand-in-hand focusing their joint projects on the following three key areas:

• Raising awareness on prevention, early detection, proper treatment and rehabilitation
• Bringing liver cancer onto the political radar and agenda
• Providing liver cancer expert and peer-to-peer patient support

Within these three areas, concrete projects for the partnership this year will include: an educational session that will be organized for member groups of both organisations and an awareness campaign during the Liver Cancer Awareness Month of October.

For 2021 DiCE and ELPA plan to develop a joint White Paper for the Detection and Treatment of Liver Cancer and to organise an event at the European Parliament in Brussels in order to present it. By coincidence, both organisations’ offices are on the same premises in Brussels, which will further intensify our work together.

May this be the start of a long and fruitful collaboration!