Welcome to the first Cancer Prevention Europe multilingual online programme on primary and secondary prevention of cancer, for cancer prevention advocates and health promoters!

The programme consists of two sets of self-learning modules:

    1. The European Code Against Cancer, 4th editionThis certified set of 13 self-learning modules includes a module on each of the 12 recommendations and an additional module on the methodology underlying the development of the 4th edition of the European Code Against Cancer.

Accreditation Update: We are pleased to announce that the modules covering the European Code Against Cancer, 4th edition, have now been accredited by the European Union of Medical Specialists (UEMS), offering 3 ECMEC® or 3CME upon completion of the full set of modules.

 

 

    1. Latest evidence on cancer prevention, myths, and controversiesThis complementary set of 12 self-learning modules presents the latest evidence and tackles some myths and controversies related to the topics addressed by the European Code Against Cancer, 4th edition.

The European Code Against Cancer, 4th edition

1_Tobacco
7_UVexposure
2_Secondhand_smoke
8_Pollutants
3_Obesity
9_Radiation
4_Physical_activity
10_Breastfeeding_HPV
5_Diet
11_Vaccination
6_Alcohol
12_Screening

The European Code Against Cancer focuses on actions that individual citizens can take for themselves or their families to reduce their risk of developing cancer. For successful cancer prevention, these individual actions need to be supported by government policies and actions.

It is estimated that almost half of all deaths due to cancer in Europe could be avoided if everyone followed the 12 recommendations of the 4th edition of the European Code Against Cancer.

Use the self-paced modules available for each of the 12 recommendations! An additional module explains the methodology followed by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) to develop the 4th edition of the European Code Against Cancer. 

To access the modules, please register/login to the learning platform.  

An evaluation of the learning is available after completing the 13 self-learning modules on the European Code Against Cancer, 4th edition. The evaluation includes a survey and a quiz that, if successfully completed, will entitle you to a Certificate of Completion issued jointly by Cancer Prevention Europe and IARC.

IMPORTANT NOTE: To obtain access to the evaluation, make sure to click on the “Complete” button, located on the top right of each module page, after you finish the module. 

Translations into other languages coming soon.

Modules

Free

Methodology

Find out the methods used in the creation of the European Code Against Cancer.
— Dr Carolina Espina, IARC

Free

1A. Tobacco

Do not smoke. Do not use any form of tobacco.

— Dr Maria Leon, IARC

Free

2A. Second-hand smoke

Make your home smoke-free. Support smoke-free policies in your workplace.

— Dr Maria Leon, IARC

Free

3A. Body weight

Take action to be a healthy body weight.

— Dr Martin Wiseman, WCRF

Free

4A. Physical activity

Be physically active in everyday life. Limit the time you spend sitting.

— Dr Martin Wiseman, WCRF

Free

5A. Diet

Have a healthy diet. Eat plenty of whole grains, pulses, vegetables and fruits. Limit high-calorie foods (high in sugar or fat) and avoid sugary drinks. Avoid processed meat, limit red meat and foods high in salt.
— Dr Isabelle Romieu, IARC

Free

6A. Alcohol

If you drink alcohol of any type, limit your intake. Not drinking alcohol is better for cancer prevention.
— Dr Isabelle Romieu, IARC

Free

7A. Sun/UV Exposure

Avoid too much sun, especially for children. Use sun protection. Do not use sunbeds.
— Dr Joachim Schüz, IARC

Free

8A. Pollutants

In the workplace, protect yourself against cancer-causing substances by following health and safety instructions.
— Dr Carolina Espina, IARC

Free

9A. Radiation

Find out if you are exposed to radiation from naturally high radon levels in your home.
Take action to reduce high radon levels.
— Dr Joachim Schüz, IARC

Free

10A. Breastfeeding and HRT

For women, breastfeeding reduces the mother's cancer risk, if you can breastfeed your baby. For women, Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) increases the risk of certain cancers, limit use of HRT.
— Dr Isabelle Romieu, IARC, and Dr Karen Brown, University of Leicester (UK)

Free

11A. Vaccination and infections

Ensure your children take part in vaccination programmes for: Hepatitis B (for newborns), Human Papillomavirus (HPV) (for girls).
— Dr Rolando Herrero, IARC

Free

12A. Screening

Take part in organized screening programmes for: Bowel cancer for men and women, breast cancer and cervical cancer for women.
— Dr Paola Armaroli, CPO Piemonte (Italy)

Related resources

Evaluation

This evaluation, to be completed in 3 steps, and its results will be part of a research study to assess the students’ learning and to improve future online learning programmes. By accessing the evaluation, you agree to share your data for research purposes and to be recontacted via email 4 months after completion of step 2, to proceed with step 3.

To access the evaluation and obtain your Certificate of Completion, you will have to complete the first set of 13 self-learning modules on the European Code Against Cancer, 4th edition. Make sure to click on the “Complete” button, located on the top right of the page, after completing each module.

Accreditation from UEMS
We are excited to announce that our training is now accredited by the European Union of Medical Specialists (UEMS). Upon successful completion of the evaluation, you will be eligible for 3 ECMEC® credits.
To receive your Certificate of Completion from Cancer Prevention Europe and IARC, you must complete at least the first two steps of the evaluation. After obtaining your certificate, follow these steps to redeem your credits:
Submit the certificate to your national competent authority to convert the 3 ECMEC® into 3 CME credits.
To check if your national authority is affiliated with UEMS, please https://eaccme.uems.eu/collaborations-european

IMPORTANT NOTE: To obtain a Certificate of Completion from Cancer Prevention Europe and IARC, you must complete at least the first 2 steps of the evaluation. The data collected in this evaluation are completely confidential, and the results will be assessed at an aggregate level. Your individual response will not be shared with anyone.

Latest evidence, myths, and controversies

This second set of modules presents some of the latest evidence that has emerged since the 4th edition of the European Code Against Cancer was published in 2014, and tackles some myths and controversies related to the topics addressed by the 12 recommendations of the European Code Against Cancer, 4th edition.

Use the self-paced modules to learn about further evidence beyond the European Code Against Cancer, 4th edition, and to find out how to differentiate between myths and reality. To access the modules, please register/login to the learning platform.

Modules

Free

1B. Tobacco

Latest evidence, myths, and controversies on tobacco and cancer.
— Dr Linda Bauld, Cancer Research UK and the University of Edinburgh (UK)

Free

2B. Second-hand smoke

Latest evidence, myths, and controversies on second-hand smoke and cancer.
— Dr Sean Semple, University of Stirling (UK)

Free

3B. Overweight and Obesity

Latest evidence, myths, and controversies on overweight and cancer.
— Dr Mazda Jenab, IARC

Free

4B. Physical activity

Latest evidence, myths, and controversies on physical activity and cancer.
— Dr Karen Steindorf, German Cancer Research Center (Germany)

Free

5B. Diet

Latest evidence, myths, and controversies on diet and cancer.
— Dr Inge Huybrechts, IARC

Free

6B. Alcohol

Latest evidence, myths, and controversies on alcohol and cancer.
— Dr Matty Weijenberg, Maastricht University (Netherlands)

Free

7B. Sun exposure

Latest evidence, myths, and controversies on sun exposure and cancer.
— Dr Davide Serrano, European Institute of Oncology, Milan (Italy)

Free

8B. Environmental and occupational exposures

Latest evidence, myths, and controversies on environmental and occupational exposures and cancer.
— Dr Paolo Vineis, Imperial College London (UK)

Free

9B. Radiation

Latest evidence, myths, and controversies on radiation and cancer.
— Dr Joachim Schüz, IARC

Free

10B. Therapies to prevent cancer

Latest evidence, myths, and controversies on therapies to prevent cancer.
— Dr Karen Brown, University of Leicester (UK)

Free

11B. Infections

Latest evidence, myths, and controversies on infections and cancer.
— Dr Mangesh Thorat, Queen Mary University of London, King's College London and Guy's Hospital London (UK)

Free

12B. Screening

Latest evidence, myths, and controversies on screening and cancer.
— Dr Andre Carvalho, IARC

Declaration of interest

We ensured that the experts declared no conflicts of interest and that both the course and the experts are free from commercial bias.

Acknowledgements

These modules were created thanks to the Cancer Prevention Europe (CPE) partners (cancerpreventioneurope.iarc.fr/consortium), in particular the World Cancer Research Fund International (wcrf.org), and developed by experts from all the CPE partner institutions and the International Agency for Research on Cancer. 

The translations of these modules were provided by:

  • The French National Cancer Institute (INCa), which specializes in comprehensive cancer control and research (e-cancer.fr), and the Centre Léon Bérard (centreleonberard.fr), which is dedicated to comprehensive cancer care, prevention, and research in collaboration with the Cancéropôle Lyon Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes – CLARA (canceropole-clara.com).
  • The Asociación Española Contra el Cáncer (contraelcancer.es), which leads the efforts of Spanish society to reduce the impact of cancer and to improve people’s lives.
  • The Association of European Cancer Leagues (ECL) (europeancancerleagues.org), which provides an exclusive platform for members to collaborate with their international peers, primarily in the areas of cancer prevention, tobacco control, access to medicines, and patient support. The ECL, with the support of grant agreement 101015525 from the Third European Union Health Programme 2014–2020, co-financed the translation into Hungarian with the Hungarian League Against Cancer (rakliga.hu) and the translation into Polish with the Maria Skłodowska-Curie – National Research Institute of Oncology (pib-nio.pl).
  • The German Cancer Research Center (dkfz.de/en) which is dedicated to cancer research. As part of the DKFZ, the Cancer Information Service provides information for patients, their families and the general public. In the National Cancer Prevention Center (NCPC), the DKFZ bundles and strengthens cancer prevention in a strategic partnership with the German Cancer Aid.

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