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Is there really a skin cancer epidemic?
A new study says the "melanoma epidemic" may simply represent a change in how doctors are diagnosing the disease. Anti-skin cancer campaigns have highlighted the fact that the number of melanomas has doubled in the past two decades, and continue to rise. However, some have doubted whether there are actually more cases of the cancer.
>> http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSTRE58E7HC20090915

Depression can affect cancer survival: researchers
Depression can affect the likelihood of surviving cancer, but there is no clear association yet with how quickly the cancer progresses, according to a report published on 14 September.
>> http://www.reuters.com/article/scienceNews/idUSTRE58D4T920090914

Call for expression of interest in the renewal of membership in the EU Health Forum
The Directorate General for Health & Consumers (DG Sanco) wishes to renew the membership of the EU Health Forum (formerly EU Health Policy Forum) on the basis of the EU Health Strategy: Together for Health – a Strategic Approach for the EU 2008 - 2013.
>> http://ec.europa.eu/health/ph_overview/health_forum/health_forum_renewal_en.htm

European Partnership for Action Against Cancer
The European Commission is reinforcing its long-term commitment to the fight against cancer by launching a European Partnership for Action Against Cancer.
>> http://ec.europa.eu/health/ph_information/dissemination/diseases/cancer_partnership_en.htm

'Talent, technology and tolerance' key to attracting creative workers
A leading thinker on creativity believes attracting talented people is the driving force behind successful cities.
>> http://www.euractiv.com/en/enterprise-jobs/talent-technology-tolerance-key-attracting-creative-workers/article-184817

Colorectal cancer attitudes vary by ethnicity
Men and people of South Asian descent are more likely to have unfavorable perceptions of colon cancer screening, research from the UK shows.
>> http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSTRE57P3PQ20090826

EU medical trials law 'putting brakes on science'
European rules on medical research have decimated academic studies due to spiralling insurance costs and bureaucracy, according to a leading academic.
>> http://www.euractiv.com/en/health/eu-medical-trials-law-putting-brakes-science/article-184777

Tobacco seen killing 6 million people next year
Tobacco use will kill 6 million people next year from cancer, heart disease, emphysema and a range of other ills, global cancer experts said in a report.
>> http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSTRE57O52L20090825

Tobacco could kill 1 billion this century
Tobacco could kill one billion people this century if current trends hold, global health experts said in a report issued Tuesday.
>> http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSTRE57O5TC20090825

Website lists dos and don'ts of Europe
The website fastenseatbelts.eu appears to be becoming a new reference point for intercultural travellers, providing advice on how to avoid blunders while abroad.
>> http://www.euractiv.com/en/culture/website-lists-dos-ts-europe/article-184733

Whole-brained’ education crucial for creativity
Breaking down barriers between arts and sciences is essential if Europe is to produce inventive graduates.
>> http://www.euractiv.com/en/innovation/brained-education-crucial-creativity/article-184644

Arthritis drugs raise cancer risk in kids: FDA
Blockbuster prescription drugs used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and other conditions can increase the risk of potentially deadly cancer in children and teenagers, U.S. health regulators said.
>> http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSTRE5736KS20090804

Global stomach cancer death rates decline
Some good news on some cancers: During the last decade, deaths from stomach cancer have declined in most areas of the world, according to a new study. While such cancers are rare in North America and much of Europe, they tend to be quite common in Japan, Russia, and parts of Latin America, and account for more than 10 percent of cancer deaths worldwide.
>> http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSTRE56U6KP20090731

EU cancer 'partnership' to focus on prevention
A 'European Partnership for Action against Cancer' to be launched this autumn will aim to screen 100% of the population for breast, cervical and colorectal cancer by 2013, the European Commission announced.
>> http://www.euractiv.com/en/health/eu-cancer-partnership-focus-prevention/article-183511

European Platform against Cancer; Register for the launch
The European Commission is re-inforcing its long-term commitment to the fight against cancer by launching a European Partnership for Action Against Cancer. The action will be launched at an event to be held in Brussels on 29 Septemebr 2009. To see the programme and register for the event follow the link.
>> http://ec.europa.eu/health/ph_information/dissemination/diseases/cancer_partnership_en.htm

Doctors favour greater EU mobility
Post-graduate medical qualifications should be recognised across the European Union in order to remove barriers to the mobility of doctors, Lisette Tiddens, secretary-general of the Standing Committee of European Doctors (CPME), told EurActiv in an interview.
>> http://www.euractiv.com/en/health/doctors-favour-greater-eu-mobility/article-183754

'Debate needed' on assisted death
Helping a patient to die can carry a 14-year jail sentence for nurses in the UK A "considered" and "objective" debate is needed on assisted suicide, the head of the Royal College of Nursing says. It comes after the RCN, which has 400,000 members, shifted its stance on the matter to be neutral.
>> http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8168926.stm

Euthanasia man's partner arrested
A man whose terminally ill partner committed suicide in Switzerland has been arrested on suspicion of helping him end his life.
>> http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/london/8165633.stm

European cancer specialists to increase online collaboration
Cancer care experts in Europe are to make more use of the internet to improve the flow of information between scientists, NHS doctors, drug companies and patients. The £1m Eurocancercoms project, an initiative of the European Institute of Oncology, will link hospitals, doctors, patient groups and the pharmaceutical industry.
>> http://www.hsj.co.uk/news/technology/european-cancer-specialists-to-increase-online-collaboration/5004222.article

EU countries to discuss cross-border health plans
Fundamental divisions on a proposed directive allowing patients to seek treatment in any EU country will dominate a meeting of European health ministers on Monday (8 June), with a small bloc of countries firmly opposed to the basic principle of the plan.
>> http://www.euractiv.com/en/health/eu-countries-discuss-cross-border-health-plans/article-182897