This year IPOS became a member of ECCO which represents 24 member organisations. This gives IPOS greater visibility within the group of professional cancer societies in Europe.

We are participating in their working groups such as the Oncopolicy Committee and the Quality Cancer Care guidelines group. Neil Aaronson went to the first meeting of this year’s Oncopolicy Committee. This committee is constituted to help set ECCO’s priorities and ensure communications from ECCO provide a clear and assertive voice within the cancer policy community. Elisabeth Andritsch is participating in the Quality Cancer Care guidelines groups, which are addressing colo-rectal cancer and sarcomas. Luzia Travado represented IPOS by participating in the General Assembly, and by attending the ECCO Membership Strategy group, and the congress programme development session.

IPOS will have a presence in ECCO’s congress next January in Amsterdam, which may encourage IPOS members and their local associations to participate in this large congress together with all major cancer societies in Europe. Although our participation is somewhat limited due to the fact that the programme had been finalised when we became members and were involved in its discussion, it is a major breakthrough for IPOS to have a presence and participation at this major event in Europe regarding cancer.

http://www.ecco-org.eu/About-Ecco