German Cancer Aid
Encyclopedia
The German Cancer Aid is a not-for-profit organization to fight cancer in all its forms. The institution was founded on September 25, 1974 by Dr. Mildred Scheel
(1932-1985). She was the wife of Walter Scheel
, the Federal President of Germany from 1974 to 1979.
As the “First Lady”, Mildred Scheel established the major cancer charity in Germany
. It became the leading organization fighting cancer in Europe. From the very beginning, the organization has been supported only by private donors. The German Cancer Aid has remained independent of politics and the pharmacological industry. Mildred Scheel’s credo was: “We are only devoted to fight cancer for the benefit of all people.”
, diagnosis
, therapy
, after-care and self-help
. It helps to improve the equipment and personnel in hospital
s and to remedy shortages and emergencies in institutions for therapy, research
and rehabilitation.
The German cancer patients who are in financial distress due to their disease can get advice, help and in certain cases also financial support. The German Cancer Aid and its "Dr. Mildred Scheel Foundation for Cancer Research" support numerous innovative research projects in order to develop new methods of therapy and diagnosis against cancer
.
The German Cancer Aid not only informs about the various types of cancer, but also about the possibilities of cancer prevention and motivates the population to get medical check-ups. “We organize and support medical education, education courses and information events in order to improve the fight against cancer”, said the managing director Gerd Nettekoven.
and WDR) He is elected for five years. Pleitgen succeeded [Harald zur Hausen]] (Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2008). He was the president of the German Cancer Aid in 2010.
The Chairman of the Board of Directors is Hans-Peter Kraemer (Cologne
). He is supported by nine colleagues and cancer experts, including Otmar Wiestler
.
The chief of the information department is the medical doctor Eva M. Kalbheim, a cancer expert herself.
, in order to keep contacts to the government administration and the Parliament. The headquarters in Bonn manage the day-to-day business of the subsidiary organizations. These are:
•Dr. Mildred Scheel Foundation for Cancer Research, founded on February 16, 1976
•Mildred Scheel Kreis e.V., Association, established on November 7, 1977
•Dr. Mildred Scheel Academy of Education and Research GmbH (Cologne), founded on April 30, 1992
With about 64,370 new cases in prostate cancer
in Germany, this disease is now the most common cancer in men. The main reason is the growing proportion of older men. The mean age of onset is 69 years.
The most common cancer in women is breast cancer
. Every year 59,510 women are diagnosed with it in Germany. The mean main age of onset is 64 years. 40 percent of affected women are younger than 60 years. Ranked second in women is colon cancer, with 33,620 new cases. In third place is lung cancer
, with 15,180 new cases. According the doctor Eva M. Kalbheim, the cause is this: more and more women smoke.
Every year, approximately 1,800 children and adolescents under 15 years are newly diagnosed with cancer in Germany. This number has been steady for many years.
Mildred Scheel
Mildred Scheel was a German physician, the second wife of the German President of the Federal Republic Walter Scheel and the founder of the German Cancer Aid. As the First Lady , she immediately established this Non-profit organization to fight all kinds of cancer...
(1932-1985). She was the wife of Walter Scheel
Walter Scheel
Walter Scheel is a German politician . He served as Federal Minister of Economic Cooperation and Development from 1961 to 1966, Foreign Minister of Germany and Vice Chancellor from 1969 to 1974, acting Chancellor of Germany from 7 May to 16 May 1974 , and finally as President of the Federal...
, the Federal President of Germany from 1974 to 1979.
As the “First Lady”, Mildred Scheel established the major cancer charity in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. It became the leading organization fighting cancer in Europe. From the very beginning, the organization has been supported only by private donors. The German Cancer Aid has remained independent of politics and the pharmacological industry. Mildred Scheel’s credo was: “We are only devoted to fight cancer for the benefit of all people.”
The motto and the Goal
Under the motto “Help. Research. Information”, the organization sponsors and supports research projects to improve preventionPreventive medicine
Preventive medicine or preventive care refers to measures taken to prevent diseases, rather than curing them or treating their symptoms...
, diagnosis
Diagnosis
Diagnosis is the identification of the nature and cause of anything. Diagnosis is used in many different disciplines with variations in the use of logics, analytics, and experience to determine the cause and effect relationships...
, therapy
Therapy
This is a list of types of therapy .* Adventure therapy* Animal-assisted therapy* Aquatic therapy* Aromatherapy* Art and dementia* Art therapy* Authentic Movement* Behavioral therapy* Bibliotherapy* Buteyko Method* Chemotherapy...
, after-care and self-help
Self-help
Self-help, or self-improvement, is a self-guided improvement—economically, intellectually, or emotionally—often with a substantial psychological basis. There are many different self-help movements and each has its own focus, techniques, associated beliefs, proponents and in some cases, leaders...
. It helps to improve the equipment and personnel in hospital
Hospital
A hospital is a health care institution providing patient treatment by specialized staff and equipment. Hospitals often, but not always, provide for inpatient care or longer-term patient stays....
s and to remedy shortages and emergencies in institutions for therapy, research
Research
Research can be defined as the scientific search for knowledge, or as any systematic investigation, to establish novel facts, solve new or existing problems, prove new ideas, or develop new theories, usually using a scientific method...
and rehabilitation.
The German cancer patients who are in financial distress due to their disease can get advice, help and in certain cases also financial support. The German Cancer Aid and its "Dr. Mildred Scheel Foundation for Cancer Research" support numerous innovative research projects in order to develop new methods of therapy and diagnosis against cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
.
The German Cancer Aid not only informs about the various types of cancer, but also about the possibilities of cancer prevention and motivates the population to get medical check-ups. “We organize and support medical education, education courses and information events in order to improve the fight against cancer”, said the managing director Gerd Nettekoven.
President and Board of Directors
President of the organization since 2011 is Fritz Pleitgen, author and former leading German correspondent (ARDARD
Ard, ARD, Ards or ARDS may refer to:Ard:*Ard or scratch-plough, a type of plough consisting of a simple spike dragged through the soil*Ard, alternate name of Arad, Iran, a city in Fars Province...
and WDR) He is elected for five years. Pleitgen succeeded [Harald zur Hausen]] (Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2008). He was the president of the German Cancer Aid in 2010.
The Chairman of the Board of Directors is Hans-Peter Kraemer (Cologne
Cologne
Cologne is Germany's fourth-largest city , and is the largest city both in the Germany Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia and within the Rhine-Ruhr Metropolitan Area, one of the major European metropolitan areas with more than ten million inhabitants.Cologne is located on both sides of the...
). He is supported by nine colleagues and cancer experts, including Otmar Wiestler
Otmar Wiestler
Otmar D. Wiestler is a German physician, a professor at the University of Heidelberg and director of the German Cancer Research Centre...
.
The chief of the information department is the medical doctor Eva M. Kalbheim, a cancer expert herself.
Headquarters and institutions
The headquarters of the German Cancer Aid are located at Busch-Strasse 32, in 53113 Bonn. Telephone: 0228/7 29 90–0, fax: 0228/7 29 90–11, E-Mail: deutsche@krebshilfe.de. An additional office is in the German capital BerlinBerlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, in order to keep contacts to the government administration and the Parliament. The headquarters in Bonn manage the day-to-day business of the subsidiary organizations. These are:
•Dr. Mildred Scheel Foundation for Cancer Research, founded on February 16, 1976
•Mildred Scheel Kreis e.V., Association, established on November 7, 1977
•Dr. Mildred Scheel Academy of Education and Research GmbH (Cologne), founded on April 30, 1992
Cancer in Germany and world-wide
Every year, more than 450,000 people in Germany develop cancer, making this disease the No. 2 killer in the country. According to the official statistics, 216,000 people die every year of cancer. Experts estimate that the number of cancer cases will increase by the year 2050 by 30 percent. The reason: People live longer and cancer is a disease that affects especially older people. Experts observe this kind of development worldwide.With about 64,370 new cases in prostate cancer
Prostate cancer
Prostate cancer is a form of cancer that develops in the prostate, a gland in the male reproductive system. Most prostate cancers are slow growing; however, there are cases of aggressive prostate cancers. The cancer cells may metastasize from the prostate to other parts of the body, particularly...
in Germany, this disease is now the most common cancer in men. The main reason is the growing proportion of older men. The mean age of onset is 69 years.
The most common cancer in women is breast cancer
Breast cancer
Breast cancer is cancer originating from breast tissue, most commonly from the inner lining of milk ducts or the lobules that supply the ducts with milk. Cancers originating from ducts are known as ductal carcinomas; those originating from lobules are known as lobular carcinomas...
. Every year 59,510 women are diagnosed with it in Germany. The mean main age of onset is 64 years. 40 percent of affected women are younger than 60 years. Ranked second in women is colon cancer, with 33,620 new cases. In third place is lung cancer
Lung cancer
Lung cancer is a disease characterized by uncontrolled cell growth in tissues of the lung. If left untreated, this growth can spread beyond the lung in a process called metastasis into nearby tissue and, eventually, into other parts of the body. Most cancers that start in lung, known as primary...
, with 15,180 new cases. According the doctor Eva M. Kalbheim, the cause is this: more and more women smoke.
Every year, approximately 1,800 children and adolescents under 15 years are newly diagnosed with cancer in Germany. This number has been steady for many years.