Today, I had the privilege of participating in the Europa Uomo Academy in Brussels. This unique “summer university” was not intended for medical students, but for experienced patients—men who have had prostate cancer and who want to play a role in the development of healthcare.
Over the course of several days, we exchanged views on key topics such as:
• screening and diagnosis of prostate cancer,
• the side effects of treatments,
• quality of life after cancer,
• and above all: how can patients’ voices be heard in the political, medical, and social spheres?
As a urologist, I enjoy teaching, but I also enjoy listening. Every story and every question asked in this room reminded me of how important patients are to medicine.
I would also like to express my appreciation for the work of the Nous Aussi association, which is dedicated to improving patient representation in the field of men’s sexual health in Belgium.
Educating patients means giving them the tools to stand up for their rights, but also to build a relationship with their healthcare providers. And that is a form of medicine I’m proud to support.