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About the Female Cancer Program Foundation
At the end of the 1980’s cooperation was started between the departments of Gynecology, Pathology, Immunohematology and Clinical Epidemiology of the Leiden University Medical Center. This multi disciplinary team of specialists joined forces in 
the study, treatment and prevention of cervical cancer. On the basis of this collaboration a center of excellence was established on all aspects of cervical cancer, from fundamental research on etiology to new surgical methods and from new insights on tumor biology to immunotherapy and immunoprevention. In the Leiden University Medical Center the highest number of cervical cancer operations in the Netherlands are performed and a peptide vaccine has been developed that aims to prevent and treat cervical cancer. This combined program that involves patient care, research and education has been named: AccA (against cervical cancer). With AccA specific projects in developing countries, the high incidence areas of cervical cancer where 80% of all cases world wide are found, has gained increasing international attention and recognition.
In June 2004 the program received a donation of the Dutch National Postal Lottery. With this donation and previous gifts from companies and private institutes, a See & Treat program was established in Surinam and Indonesia. In this program patients from rural areas with limited or no access to medical care were seen and, if necessary, treated on the spot. This so-called demonstration project was set up as a proof of principle program with the option of expansion to other sites in developing countries (see activities supported by the FCP-foundation).
At the end of 2005 a large funding was received from the European Union to establish an educational program in Indonesia aiming to increase the local capacity and infrastructure. This educational program, the so-called ASIA-link project, is complimentary to the see and treat approach as gyneco-oncologist to medical students receive specialized education on the basis train-the-trainer principle (see activities supported by the FCP-foundation).
These projects have inspired the Female Cancer Program Foundation to participate in the fight against cervical cancer and support activities that contribute to the eventual goal of eradicating this disease.
