PILOT PROJECT ON EARLY DETECTION OF PANCREATIC CANCER STARTED IN THE ULYANOVSK REGION

A pilot project on early detection of pancreatic cancer is launched in the Ulyanovsk region

The presentation of the project took place on May 28 at Ulyanovsk State University within the framework of the Tenth Multidisciplinary Scientific and Practical Conference of the project “Oncopatrol”.

During the conference the welcoming speech was delivered by Galina Alexeeva, Deputy Director General of the National Medical Research Radiological Center of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Anna Tverskova, Deputy Chairman of the Government of the region, Lidia Andreeva, Deputy Minister of Health of the region, Director of the Department of Drugs and Medical Devices Supply, Boris Kostishko, Rector of Ulyanovsk State University, Viktor Kulikov, Chief Outside Oncologist of the Ministry of Health of the Ulyanovsk region, and Olga Stroynova, Executive Director of the Oncopatrol Project. The event was also attended by the region’s leading oncology specialists, researchers, heads and staff of medical institutions, medical students and residents.

During the meeting, the participants discussed the issues of early detection of cancer diseases, as well as the world experience of early detection of pancreatic cancer and plans for the project implementation. “Today a rather large team of 26 specialists from the National Medical Research Radiological Centre of of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation came to Ulyanovsk to carry out preventive work, cancer education of the population, students and medical professionals so that they know how to prevent cancer, timely detection and treatment. We came to the Ulyanovsk region for the second time, because the region has picked up our mission and is also carrying out large-scale work to educate and screen the population for oncopathology. We want to see if the region is moving in the right direction and what other reference points we need to pay attention to in order to move forward. This year we will focus on those diseases that cause the highest mortality rate, using the best international practices,” said Galina Alekseeva.

According to Olga Stroynova, a pilot project on early detection of pancreatic cancer is planned to be implemented in five regions of Russia in the Republic of Bashkortostan, Voronezh, Tula, Nizhny Novgorod and Ulyanovsk regions.

“Pancreatic cancer is one of the most fatal forms of cancer due to the fact that it is difficult to diagnose at an early stage and shows almost no symptoms. Diagnosis begins with a doctor’s examination, where the specialist may detect changes in the size of the liver, gallbladder and spleen. If cancer is suspected, the doctor may prescribe an ultrasound, after which endosonography, CT or MRI may be required. Within the framework of the project, we will strengthen systematic work in the pilot regions to diagnose this disease, and then expand the project throughout the country,” says the executive director of the Oncopatrol project.

We would like to remind you that the fight against cancer is one of the key objectives of the national project “Health Care”. Over the past two years, the mortality rate from malignant neoplasms has decreased by 4% in the region.

“More than half of the oncopathologies detected last year were found at early stages. This was achieved thanks to the projects operating in the region, including the project “Oncopatrol”. Today the project on early detection of pancreatic cancer was presented for the first time in the Ulyanovsk region. This disease is now in the third place in the structure of mortality from malignant neoplasms among women in Russia, after breast cancer and colorectal cancer. According to experts, due to rapid growth, the incidence rate of pancreatic cancer in the country may soon take the first place. Thank you very much to the federal specialists for including our region in this important socially significant project,” said Lidia Andreeva.