By Yuliya Grizunt: A pilot project for screening cancers launches in Belarus. This programme has already helped hundreds of Belarusians defeat the disease.
Today, Minsk hosted a conference that brought together hundreds of doctors from the CIS, the US, and Europe. The participants discussed the achievements and future plans in diagnosing the disease. Also, they announced the creation of the Eurasian Oncology Union with Belarus as its main platform. Such an organization will allow doctors from smaller countries to participate in major scientific research programmes around the world.
Since last year, the N.N. Alexandrov National Scientific and Practical Centre for Oncology and Medical Radiology began to conduct screening tests for human papilloma virus. In the course of the programme, 1,500 women have already been examined. About 50 of them learned about the disease before the cancer reached the first stage.
Next year, Belarusian doctors will launch a pilot screening programme for stomach and lung cancer. Doctors at local polyclinics compile lists of people at risk, and everyone who needs a check-up is called and invited for screening. Everyone can get into the programme – it is entirely free, but if a patient wishes to have their check-up quicker, then there is a fee.
Annually, up to 50,000 cancer cases are diagnosed in Belarus. Thanks to the screening programme the figure grows annually and considering the timely diagnosis the mortality from this disease has been reduced. Every year, thousands of people are operated on the first stage of cancer and then forget about the disease forever.
