Italy to Launch Cancer
Prevention Campaign
Excerpt By Rossella Lorenzi, Reuters Health

FLORENCE, Italy (Reuters Health) - Concerned by poor cancer prevention data presented at a scientific conference this week, Italy's health minister Girolamo Sirchia has announced a cancer prevention plan that would be implemented in early 2002.

The plan would include an anti-smoking and anti-obesity campaign, better training on cancer prevention for family doctors and the introduction of mammography, Pap tests and possibly prostate and colorectal cancer screening as essential components of health assistance.

The survey, promoted by the Anti-Cancer League of Rome and the National Labor and Economy Council, produced alarming results. It was presented this week in Rome at the International Forum on Tumor Prevention.

The survey revealed that 55% of the population do nothing to prevent cancer from developing. Screening mammography is unknown to 30% of women, Pap tests are unfamiliar to 35%, and 40% of men at risk of developing prostate cancer have never been screened.

Most family doctors, the survey showed, do not involve patients in the decision to run early tests, and only 17% advise their patients to undergo preventive tests.

``The figures show that little has changed since 10 years ago, when we carried out a similar survey, with disastrous results. At that time only 16% of family doctors were engaged in cancer prevention,'' Dr. Giuliano Quintarelli, president of the Anti-Cancer League of Rome, told Reuters Health.

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