Promote awareness about prevention and the early diagnosis of female oncological diseases. It is one of the missions ofItalian Doctors’ Wives Association, who wanted to meet the citizens in Locri precisely to raise awareness about health education and inform about the possibilities that the area offers in terms of prevention tools. «With the various screenings that can be done, it is possible to make a diagnosis in the initial phase of the disease – he underlined Nicoletta Santoro Tavernese, oncologist and president of AMMI Locride -. This is fundamental because it ensures that, if necessary, much less destructive interventions and can more easily lead to healing»
HPV test, Pap test, mammograms, fecal occult blood test: instruments with which healthcare personnel are able to check for the presence of anomalies in the cervix, breast and colorectal. According to the latest data in Italy, 56% of women undergo mammography screening and only four out of ten regularly carry out the Pap or HPV test. For colorectal cancer, however, just 38% of men and women over 50 carry out the examination to look for occult blood in the feces.
«The critical part is precisely that concerning the adherence of the female population to screening – explained the gynecologist Maria Antonietta Bova -. If we have weapons in our hands but they are not used we will have very few results. Our role must then also be that of inform as much as possible. Many people don’t know what we have available nowadays to prevent tumors and therefore they don’t go for the Pap test or the HPV test and then the colposcopy to locate the altered cells and therefore be able to treat them.”
Also making its contribution in the fight against tumors in Locride is the“Angela Serra” Associationengaged in redevelopment of the oncology department of the Locri hospital and active (in Locri and Siderno) with counters useful for putting patients in contact with the various professionals in the area. «Then there are the services that we provide completely free of charge with different professionals – he highlighted Marinella Pagnotta, volunteer of the “Angela Serra” Association -. In fact, it is possible to have the support of a psychologist or nutritionist, a beautician and oncology beautician; because, as you well know, cancer patients face very strong therapies that have a huge impact on the person.”
The meeting, which took place inside the Incorpora Library of Palazzo Nieddu and sponsored by the Municipality of Locri, ended with a debate among the participants and with questions relating to the topics explored by the experts.
