Free consultations for women and lections for doctors have been prepared by GE Healthcare and the Prevent Cancer Foundation
Russia, Kirov, November 15, 2010 --
Following the International Breast Cancer Awareness Month GE Healthcare together with the Cancer Prevention Foundation, Kirov Regional Oncology Health Center and Kirov Healthcare Department will organize a program on early prevention of breast cancer. The program will be implemented in Kirov and one of the county centers of the Kirov region.
Today breast cancer is one of the most prevailed kinds of oncology diseases among women. According to FGU "CNIIOIZ Minzdravrazvitiya RF", breast cancer holds the first place in women oncology diseases' structure with a constantly growing occurrence rate. Early diagnosis is the key to successful treatment. The importance of early breast cancer diagnosis is illustrated by the following statistic data of a 5-year survival rate[1] (the share of patients that stay live for 5 years after they are diagnosed with cancer):
- stage I: survival rate 84%;
- stage II: survival rate 71%;
- stage III: survival rate 48%;
- stage IV (metastases): survival rate 18%.
Established in 2007 in Saint Petersburg, the Cancer Prevention Foundation, an independent non-profit organization, and GE Healthcare have a commitment to make early breast cancer diagnosis available to all Russian women and are organized a special program in Kirov region.
President and CEO of GE Healthcare in Russia and CIS Vyacheslav Grischenko said: "This joint project supported by Kirov region Healthcare Department, the Prevent Cancer Foundation and Kirov Regional Oncology Health Center is our chance to attract women's attention to problems of early breast cancer diagnosis. Public awareness of the "early health" concept is one of our strategic priorities for all countries where GE Healthcare operates. We believe that modern equipment's features are able to provide reliable diagnosis giving the chance for timely treatment for every woman. I hope that during the program the doctors from Kirov will get a chance to learn about contemporary research techniques used when working with hi-tech equipment and will be able to provide qualified treatment to their patients."
The program is scheduled for 4 days from November 15 to November 18, 2010. The program's goal is to involve as much women, oncologists and primary gynecologists as possible into the prevention and early diagnosis of breast cancer. During the program two breast physicians' rooms will be opened and every woman will be able to receive a free consultation and even referral for a free mammography examination. A round table conference is scheduled at the end of the program where participants and organizers will discuss the results of the program.
Meanwhile the course of lections about breast diseases will be held for oncologists and gynecologists. The course will be provided by Nadezhda Rozhkova, Head of Federal Mammology Center based within the Russian Science X-ray Radiology Center.
Head of medical projects of the Cancer Prevention Foundation, Ilya Fomincev, said: "Today there's still no somewhat regular oncology screening system in Russia. And that is why we have a constant and even growing death rate from tumors. There are several reasons for this and the major ones are -- outdated diagnosis equipment that is not suitable for mass screening, employees' shortage in x-ray diagnosis area, non appropriate salary system for professionals working in mass screening, the absence of appropriate legislation and the absence of regular work with healthy people. There is no special service in Russia fully responsible for early cancer diagnosis. Kirov region is the one of the few regions where significant efforts are being taken in that area. Today, I think, this region is the closest one to developing the country's first breast cancer screening system. We hope that during the program we will empirically draw out the main problems that are on the way to developing a screening system. We will conduct a round table conference based on the program's results to discuss solutions for these problems with government bodies and experts. This will probably bring Kirov region closer to that leap in early cancer diagnosis which Russia has need for a long time now."
Victor Repin, Chief Doctor, Kirov Regional Oncology Health Center, highlighted: "More than 400 cases of breast cancer are diagnosed in Kirov region annually. It's sad that every third woman with breast cancer comes to us with the disease in its inveterate stage. We hope that this program will improve people's sanity culture and point society's attention towards this most important
[1] According to the social network for oncologists and patients -- Oncoweb.RU
About the Cancer Prevention Foundation
The Cancer Prevention Foundation is an independent non-profit organization. The Cancer Prevention Foundation distributes funds for social programs of cancer early diagnosis and treatment.
The Foundation has developed and executed various large projects for early cancer diagnosis in Saint-Petersburg and Leningrad region. Additional information about the Cancer Prevention Foundation is available online at www.oncoweb.ru
Sergey Zverev