Every year in Italy over 6,000 women fall ill with ovarian cancer, a disease that is destined to become a major health emergency. It is estimated that globally by 2050, 12 million women will be diagnosed with it and will cause eight million deaths. To raise awareness among public opinion and the institutions of our country, the Loto OdV association is also promoting the twelfth World Ovarian Cancer Day in Italy this year, which will be celebrated on Wednesday 8 May. The Senate of the Republic also joins the initiative and the facade of the institutional headquarters of Palazzo Madama in Rome will be illuminated in Tiffany blue. The colored lights will remain lit throughout the night between May 7th and 8th.
The aim of World Day is to highlight, across all five continents, the need for global action against cancer in terms of prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care. For the international event, the Ovarian Cancer Coalition launched the “No Woman Left Behind” campaign with an online petition. “We share the initiative which focuses on overcoming disparities and inequalities between patients – states Sandra Balboni, President of Loto OdV -. Innovation and medical-scientific research are leading to the development of new anti-tumor treatments. They are usually very effective, more personalized than previous treatments and are able to give new chances to thousands of women. However, they must be made available to all women who have to face this difficult disease.” “It is a complex oncological pathology and, in fact, causes more than 3,600 deaths a year in Italy – adds Rossana Berardi, president of the Scientific Committee of Loto OdV and national treasurer of the AIOM-Italian Association of Medical Oncology -. It presents very heterogeneous morphological characteristics and is divided into different subgroups. The risk conditions linked to the development of carcinoma are above all endocrine factors linked to ovarian stimulation. Among these, the most frequent are nulliparity, infertility or a first pregnancy over the age of 35. There are also other factors such as genetic ones and those linked to the presence of alterations associated with an increase in oncological risk. The most important are BRCA1 and BRCA2 which also play a role in breast or prostate cancer. On the contrary, multiparity, breastfeeding and prolonged use of oral contraceptives reduce the risk of onset. In recent years, important therapeutic innovations have been introduced, particularly in the field of precision oncology, which are bringing great benefits in terms of survival.”
Also as part of the World Day, “IO despite everything” is presented today at the Gemelli Polyclinic in Rome. The project is dedicated to patients being treated in the Gynecology Oncology department. It aims to support them in taking care of their image through the organization of group events in which to share ideas and tools to enhance themselves through the use of colours, clothing, accessories, make up and skin care. The women will be guided on this path by specialized consultants. The project is carried out in collaboration with Asso Style Image (ASI), a trade association of image consultants which brings together professionals in the sector. “Until a few years ago we had no possibility of preventing ovarian cancer – says Prof. Giovanni Scambia, professor of Gynecology and obstetrics at the Catholic University and director of the Oncological Gynecology Operational Unit of the Agostino Gemelli IRCCS University Polyclinic Foundation -. Today, however, advances in knowledge of the genetics of this tumor allow us to identify people at risk and carry out adequate prevention for them.” “For this reason we have created a clinic at Gemelli dedicated to the diagnosis and follow-up of patients with genetic predisposition” adds Professor Anna Fagotti, Professor of Gynecology and Obstetrics at the Catholic University and Director of the Ovarian Cancer Unit of the Agostino University Polyclinic Foundation IRCCS Twins.
Loto OdV will sponsor two training events in the next few days: Ovarian and Endometrial Cancer Congress (in Bologna from 17 to 18 May) and Gynecological Cancers 2024 medical therapy evolution or revolution (4 May again in Bologna). A One Healthon webinar will be held on May 14: focus on ovarian cancer and HPV. Finally, on May 15th in Ancona, in collaboration with the INPS, the second edition of the conference on medical-legal evaluation aspects oncology, work, disability will be held. “The disease should only be addressed by medical specialists in reference centers – concludes President Balboni -. It must be treated by multidisciplinary pathology teams composed of gynecologists, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, pathologists and experts in supportive care. This does not always happen in Italy and therefore we recommend that patients and caregivers only turn to centers with a high volume of operations where, not surprisingly, the best survival rates are recorded”.
