It could be repeated like a mantra: implement cancer networks, encourage screening, bring oncology to the territory, ensure patient, clinical and social rehabilitation. But if the theory is known, with the practice we are still behind, so much so that we are still waiting for the new National Cancer Plan. This is why from today to May 15, in the event dedicated to the Day of the Cancer Patient organized in Rome, it will be precisely these issues that will hold the spot.
Oncoitalia
The message from the EU: cancer is a health priority
by Dario Rubino
February 21, 2022
The “holes” in the oncological networks
“As clinicians, we believe that a real implementation of Oncology Networks at a national level is fundamental”, underlines Saverio Cinieri, President of the Italian Medical Oncology Association (Aiom): “This is the best healthcare organization for patient management, because it manages to perfectly integrate hospital and territorial services, with an autonomous and authoritative governance, well regulated and uniformly recognized by all the Regions. It is necessary to create a National Cancer Plan in line with European guidelines, providing for the possibility for networks to fully exploit the funding provided “. To date, if some networks have embarked on a virtuous path of development, others have remained behind and risk increasing inequalities.
Tumors, an extraordinary plan for the recovery of post-pandemic oncology
by Irma D’Aria
12 Maggio 2022
Covid has made the criticalities of the system clear to all, and this too is now a mantra. However, cancer patients have learned the hard way: “In some areas we have seen under-treatments and under-diagnoses. Numerous therapies and interventions have been suspended and postponed, as well as screening and prevention activities “, says Sandro Pignata, Scientific Director of the Campania Oncology Network:” It is up to the Regional Networks, in the coming years, to manage this massive amount of work “.
No risorse, no screening
Let’s take the screening activities, for which we have precise numbers: in the first 17 months of the pandemic, a total of over 4,480,000 invitations and 2,790,000 fewer tests were carried out. How to recover? “The lack of resources and a lack of organization are the critical problem that has always plagued organized screening and this is, perhaps, more evident in the Southern Regions”, replies Paola Mantellini, of the National Screening Observatory: “Appropriate use is necessary resources to restart secondary cancer prevention throughout Italy “,” It is necessary to have dedicated and constantly trained medical-health personnel, and reference must be made to well-defined technical-organizational-professional requirements “.
Building the oncology of the territory
And now we come to the so-called territorial oncology, which does not exist today because oncologists are only found inside hospitals: “Treating patients at home means reducing the likelihood of intra-hospital infection, improving their quality of life, reducing human and social costs of the disease “, explains Luigi Cavanna, President of CIPOMO – Italian College of Primary Medical Oncologists in Hospital:” In the near future we will have to move more and more towards an ‘integrated’ vision of the management system “.
World Cancer Day: oncologists are calling for a ‘Recovery Plan’ against the damage caused by Covid
by Irma D’Aria
03 February 2022
Yes, because if the cancer patient has sudden pain or a new symptom and does not know where to turn, he goes to the emergency room, which – we are seeing – cannot withstand the pressure. “As FAVO we have initiated a constructive dialogue with SIMEU (Society of Clinicians of Emergency and Urgency Medicine) SIAARTI (Society of Anesthesiologists and Resuscitators), AIOM and SICO (Society of Oncologist Surgeons): a network work, with shared training, in which the DEA / PS, often the entrance door of a cancer patient in the first diagnosis, must have access to facilitated activation and management paths by the Oncology Department and Palliative Care “, says Paola Varese, Scientific Director of Favo .
The right of those who are healed
Even those who are cured of cancer must have their rights recognized, including that of oblivion, which is talked about so much in this period. “Cancer is not only curable but disease can be cured. In fact, however, the recovery does not yet coincide with the restoration of all the conditions of the person pre-existing to the disease, not only on a clinical level, but also on a social, economic and professional level “, underlines Elisabetta Iannelli, Secretary General Favo:” The ‘right to oncological oblivion’ of the former patient who, after a certain period of time from the diagnosis and the conclusion of the treatments, should not be required to declare the previous pathology in the event of a request for funding or insurance coverage. death”,
Right to be forgotten oncology: more than 60 thousand signatures for one million patients recovered
by Irma D’Aria
April 26, 2022
FAVO was among the first to raise the issue in 2017 and has been pursuing what it calls a battle of civilizations ever since. Our Federation is now a partner in the ‘I am not my tumor’ campaign, promoted by the AIOM Foundation: “We want Italy to adapt to the level of guarantees already provided for in other European Union countries – says the president of the foundation. Giordano Beretta: “Those who by now we can consider former patients must enjoy the same rights guaranteed to other citizens”. The federation has also set up a multidisciplinary working group for the drafting of a law proposal consistent with the needs of former cancer patients. “The bill for the right to be forgotten in oncological pathology is filed by Sen. Quagliariello and Binetti, signed by 16 senators, and is registered in the line dedicated to promoting the active life of former patients. The text is simple and certain to make the right effective ”, explains Maurizio Sacconi, President of Amici di Marco Biagi. “The fact that the physical healing of cancer patients is often not accompanied by a social healing – adds Quagliarello – is a vulnus not only to the constitutional principles of freedom and equality, but also and above all to civilization. There is a lot of concern, and rightly, about the right to be forgotten in many areas of civil life, and instead people who recover from cancer are often condemned to deal with the disease lived and overcome for life and with obstacles of various kinds. Scientific advances today guarantee paths and life expectancies that make all this even more unfair. Let’s make sure that this disease never becomes an ‘end of sentence never’ “.
If the introductory cancer certificate is completed by the hospital
As always, the Report of the Observatory on the welfare conditions of oncological patients of Favo dedicates a part to the theme of oncological disability. INPS, in collaboration with AIOM and with the operational link of Favo, introduced the Introductory Oncological Oncology Certificate in 2013 which was followed in 2017 by the specialist one for minors, in collaboration with the Italian Society of Pediatrics.
Breast health
Cancer, civil disability and 104: how to facilitate the journey
by Tiziana Moriconi
February 11, 2022
“To facilitate its dissemination throughout the territory – explains Raffaele Migliorini General Medical Legal Coordinator – INPS, in close collaboration with Agenas, at the beginning of 2022 started the process of adopting a framework protocol that enables and promotes the use of the certificate introductory specialist by the health structures where cancer patients are treated throughout the national territory “. In this way, it is hoped that the medico-legal evaluation will be simplified as soon as possible and a process that often represents an additional burden for patients.