Screening Three kinds of Cancers in the Country Suggested by World Health Organization 

Head of Cancer Office of the Ministry of Health, Treatment and Medical Education said: currently, screening of breast, cervix and colorectal cancers suggested by World Health Organization is being done in four cities.

According to WebDa, talking on the sidelines of International Congress on cancer in Mashhad, Dr. Ali Motlagh said on Thursday: since late last year, the screening plan of the above-mentioned cancers has begun in four cities of Baaft, Rezashahr, Naghadeh, and Maragheh in Kerman, Isfahan, East Azerbaijan, and West Azerbaijan Provinces respectively, and it continues to the end of this year.

He stated: after trial implementation of screening of the above three cancers in the above cities, this screening will gradually be implemented in all cities of the country.

He continued: the target population for the colorectal cancer in this plan aged 50-70 years and for breast and cervix cancers women aged 30-70 were investigated using clinical examinations and laboratory tests.

Screening of breast, cervix and colorectal cancers, as he said, is being done according to the World Health Organization’s suggestion and for cancers for which there is an early diagnosis method.

Head of Cancer Office of the Ministry of Health, Treatment and Medical Education continued: following these screenings, the patients detected with cancer are referred to level two and level three centers for specialized treatment.

Stating that 90 thousand new cases of cancer is reported in our country every year, Dr. Motlagh added: the outbreak of cancer is increasing in Iran and around the world, mainly because of raised life expectancy and increased age of the population in Iran.

He continued: over the last three years, the Ministry of Health has been implementing various plans to control and confront cancer in three levels of prevention, early diagnosis, and treatment.

He mentioned raising public awareness about cancer through launching national and regional campaigns, controlling risk factors by initiatives such as cigarettes selling tax increase and controlling air pollution as some of the measures being taken to prevent cancer in our country.

He pointed out: controlling risk factors for non-contingent diseases such as obesity and inactivity that play a role in cancer, following support plans and reducing medication and treatment costs for the patients are being considered in this regard.

Motlagh pointed out: a draft of a document has been written in the Ministry of Health in which duties of different organizations for preventing from various cancers are indicated.

Head of Cancer Office of the Ministry of Health added: 50 percent of the cancers can be treated and survival of cancer patients depends on three main cancer treatment methods i.e. surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy.

He said: the role of surgery in this regard is 50 percent, radiotherapy 10 percent and chemotherapy 10 percent.

He pointed out: currently, we have no troubles in terms of surgery and chemotherapy in the country, but there are problems and shortages with regard to radiotherapy.

Currently, he said, 75 radiotherapy devices are working throughout the country and 10 other devices are being launched.

He mentioned: according to general indicators, there should be a radiotherapy device for every 500 patient.

The first International Congress on Cancer in Razavi Hospital in Mashhad is being held from 29 to 31 of Shahrivar.