“Male cancer incidence and mortality rates are consistently higher than for females in non-sex specific cancers.” – Tom Hudson, ECPC President

“The great black hole is men of working age where we’ve seen very little improvement in the death rates in recent years.” – Dr. Ian Banks, EMHF President

ECPC and the European Men’s Health Forum are joining their voices in the call for greater focus on men’s health. Currently, significantly more men than women are dying prematurely in the 15-64 age range. Recent improvements in women’s health, and awareness of positive lifestyle and behavioural changes, have left men lagging behind in many areas. All of the cancers which should affect men and women equally have a much greater incidence and mortality rates among men than women.

“It is essential that men and male patients are involved in policy discussions and developments.” – Francesco de Lorenzo, ECPC Board member.

Part of the problem is that policy-makers and politicians are not aware of this gap. This is the purpose of this first comprehensive report on men’s health in Europe. The report brings together information about the current status of men’s health across diseases, ages, countries and socio-economic groups, providing policy-makers with a valuable tool.

“For the first time we have a clear picture of men’s health across the EU, so that policy-makers at all levels across Europe can see exactly what they’re dealing with and learn from each other.” – Prof. Alan White, Leeds Metropolitan University, lead author of report

The gap between men and women is not just due to any innate biological function, but for a range of more mundane reasons. There are health-focused awareness campaigns, for example about the importance of nutrition, weight loss or exercise, targeted specifically at women but very few targeted at men. Some studies have suggested that men tend to identify some symptoms later, or that they find it difficult to seek medical advice. Men engage in more high-risk behaviours, but often are not provided with the information they need to make informed decisions about their health.

“Informing patients about the complexity of cancer as disease which responds to many factors, requiring both a multidisciplinary approach and measures tailored to individual patients, will improve their awareness of and participation in prevention and treatment processes.” - Dr. A. Paradiso, Chairman of OECI Education Committee

In every topic addressed in the report, some parts of the EU can learn from others on how to improve their current policy development. By pooling experiences, the situation for men across Europe could be radically improved, which would then have a positive impact on the wellbeing of their friends and family, on the capabilities of national health and social services, and on Europe’s economic capacity.

“Guidelines developed by European experts and enforced through National Cancer Plans offer our best opportunity of an integrated and comprehensive strategy to address this inequity.” – Per Anders Abrahamsson, European Association of Urology

ECPC and EMHF also call for all policy areas with a health impact, including employment, education and housing, to consider the effect on the health of both men and women.

The report will be launched at a Forum Against Cancer Europe event in the European Parliament on June 14^th, from 9.30-14.00. Forum Against Cancer Europe (FACE) is an initiative of the European Cancer Patient Coalition. Speakers at the event will represent a range of interests, for example report contributors, MEPs, patients’ associations and European Commission representatives, including EU Health Commissioner John Dalli. Those interested in attending should email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it with their full name and date of birth.

Download the press release in PDF