We originally considered setting up a web based forum for discussing topics from all EUROCAN+PLUS groups, but these are sometimes not successful and the additional language barriers would not have made a positive contribution. Instead we have commissioned a survey of European patient groups. This "impossible task" has been undertaken for us by Dr Anton Dalhuijsen. Using the internet, phone and many personal contacts Anton has assembled a list of over three hundred patient organisations with some basic information about each.

Patient groups are concerned with a wide and varied range of activities:
Information & education
Support and care
Research (just a few)
Advocacy

We are pleased to note that Anton reported a very positive response from all those whom we approached.

From Anton’s survey we identified groups that had a cross European presence and an interest in research and invited them to a meeting in Milan. This was kindly hosted by Gordon McVie and arranged by Caroline Granger.

The meeting identified a number of key perceived barriers to progress in cancer research:

• Importance of having a European database for cancer research
• The need for information for patients and the general public on clinical trials, including phase I
• Increasingly, the system of taking promising compounds through to therapeutics available to patients is too long and lack of resources in health systems is a barrier

the list of groups are available on the EUROCAN+PLUS web site.