Cervical cancer is unique in that we already know exactly what we have to do to prevent almost every case of this disease. It is well known that organised cervical cancer screening programmes can prevent up to 80% of cervical cancers. And now we have vaccines against the Human papillomavirus (HPV) that are highly effectively in preventing infection by HPV types 16 and 18 that together are responsible for 7 of every 10 cases of cervical cancer. Therefore, bringing these two technologies together in comprehensive cervical cancer prevention programmes gives us the opportunity to prevent almost every case of cervical cancer. There is no other cancer, or any other serious human disease, for which we can have such a dramatic impact.

 So why, if we have this amazing potential, do 60,000 European women develop and 30,000 women die from cervical cancer every year? One reason is that many women have not been made aware of what they need to do to prevent cervical cancer. As a result, they do not take advantage of the programmes where they are available and they do not advocate for the implementation of these programmes where they do not exist. A second reason is that many politicians are not aware of the health and economic benefits that these programmes would bring to their countries so they do not prioritise their implementation. Clearly, one of the priorities in the battle against cervical cancer must now be to make sure the general public and the politicians of Europe fully understand the benefits of cervical cancer prevention.

 The European Cervical Cancer Prevention Week was launched specifically to address this issue by raising awareness of cervical cancer and the means by which it can be prevented. The Prevention Week has been held every year since 2007 and it has continued to grow in size with 450 events being held in 28 European countries in January 2010. Reports on each of the European Cervical Cancer Prevention Weeks are available on the ECCA website at www.ecca.info.

 Following on from the successes of the past 4 years, the European Cervical Cancer Association, European CanCer Organisation, European Association of Cancer Leagues, International Union Against Cancer and Politicians for Cervical Cancer Prevention have again combined forces to hold the 5^th Prevention Week from 23 to 29 January 2011.

One of the things that all the ECCA Members will focus on during the Prevention Week is the ongoing promotion of the Pearl of Wisdom as a symbol for the cervical cancer prevention campaign. The Cambridge International Dictionary of Idioms defines a Pearl of Wisdom as “an important piece of advice” and it is therefore a very appropriate symbol for an event that encourages women to participate in cervical cancer prevention programmes. Even in those countries where the Pearl of Wisdom phrase is not used, pearls are still associated with femininity and represent an appropriate symbol for the Prevention Week.

The STOP Cervical Cancer Petition calls on the European Institutions and all national governments to implement organised cervical cancer screening programmes equitably across Europe. The STOP Cervical Cancer Petition has over 670,000 signatures and the goal of 1 million signatures is now within reach. The ECCA will continue to promote the petition and to use it as a way to attract additional media attention to the issue of cervical cancer prevention.

In addition to these European events, the members of the ECCA from across Europe are planning numerous activities to promote awareness of cervical cancer prevention. These activities include:

• Television and radio advertisements on cervical cancer prevention to be aired throughout the week,
• Informational displays on cervical cancer prevention in shopping malls, train stations and other high-traffic areas at which the ECCA’s informational materials will be distributed to the general public,
• Lectures for healthcare professionals to ensure they have up to date information about cervical cancer prevention and can effectively answer questions coming from their patients,
• Ceremonies to be held in National Parliaments to promote the Prevention Week and the importance of cervical cancer prevention,
• Briefing sessions in national parliaments to ensure that national politicians are made fully aware of the benefits that would come from the implementation of cervical cancer prevention programmes,
• Roundtable meetings with national politicians, cervical cancer prevention experts, NGOs, patient groups and other stakeholders to agree action plans for moving the cervical cancer prevention agenda forward in their countries

A full list of the events planned for the Prevention Week can be found at ECCA website under the section "Member Actions"

Everyone is welcome to join any of the events planned for the Prevention Week and your participation would be very welcome. For further information, please contact the European Cervical Cancer Association at info@ecca.info.

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