Kom op tegen Kanker’s Post

During this European Week Against Cancer, we hear from the Director General of the Belgian Health Care Knowledge Centre, Ann Van den Bruel, about the importance of in vitro diagnostics in the fight against #cervicalcancer. 🔎 A recent report from KCE - Federaal Kenniscentrum voor de Gezondheidszorg - Centre Fédéral d'Expertise des Soins de Santé shows that in our country, we are far from achieving the target coverage of 85% for cervical cancer screening. Currently, we're at 57%... Therefore, it is crucial that we continue to work towards higher participation rates in screening programmes, with particular attention to women in vulnerable positions. ✅ The good news is that with the HPV test, we have a valuable IVD that can help: by using this new molecular test in screening, we can detect and treat more cervical cancers early, resulting in better outcomes for patients. 💡 What else can you find in our article? A summary of the report "The Value of Diagnostic Information in Cancer Care" from MedTech Europe, focusing on the role of IVDs in the 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝘂𝘂𝗺 𝗼𝗳 𝗰𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲, from screening and early detection to diagnosis, treatment (selection), and disease monitoring. Check out: • In Dutch: https://lnkd.in/epQdpTp2 • In French: https://lnkd.in/eGZYSzMY #diagnostics #cancercare #medtechmatters #invitrodiagnostics #IVD #IVDs #EWAC #EWAC2024 Association of European Cancer Leagues Stichting tegen Kanker - Fondation contre le Cancer KCE - Federaal Kenniscentrum voor de Gezondheidszorg - Centre Fédéral d'Expertise des Soins de Santé https://lnkd.in/epQdpTp2

Very interesting read. Prevention is better than cure. Vaccination along with a good screening pathway, with all stakeholders working together but also by adopting self sampling to improve coverage we can aim to eliminate cervical cancer.

The current #cancer plan dates back to 2008. Since then, we have seen huge advances in technologies, innovative #therapies and insights but also an evolution of problems and needs among #patients and #healthcare providers. Also, the number of cancer diagnoses increases every year. Therefor is high time to revise this dated cancer plan! Read more here: NL: https://lnkd.in/eNdMdh5a FR: https://lnkd.in/e7sczunf Belgian Society of Medical Oncology (Belgische Vereniging voor Medische Oncologie - Société belge d'Oncologie médicale) Stichting Kankerregister Sciensano Belgian Hematology Society (BHS) BSPHO, the Belgian Society of Paediatric Haemato-Oncology Marjan Willaert #hemathology #oncology #oncologie #kankerplan #plancancer #kanker #cancer #geneesmiddelen #médicaments

How can Belgium manage cancer in a more optimal way? This is what the Belgian EBCP Mirror Group is focusing on; from prevention, early detection and screening, diagnosis, treatment to monitoring. We are convinced diagnostics have an important role in all of these segments, with positive outcomes that are not always directly visible or easily measurable, yet worthwhile.

How can immune therapy better tackle head-neck tumors, multiple myeloma and liver cancer, amongst others? And how can we prevent overtreatment of children with thyroid cancer? These questions are investigated by four of our researchers, who were granted KWF Kankerbestrijding grants yesterday: 🔹 Jurgen Kuball is working on a second generation of his TEG-immunotherapy for head-neck cancer patients.   🔹 Victor Peperzak is improving CAR T-cell therapy for multiple myeloma patients. 🔹Dennis Beringer is developing therapeutic proteins to connect T cells with tumor cells, to recognize and beat cancer more effectively.    🔹Sarah Clement is developing a prospective data model in order to reduce the number of children with thyroid cancer suffering from the lifelong side effects of treatment. Read more about their research below. ⤵ UMC Utrecht | Prinses Máxima Centrum voor Kinderoncologie |Wilhelmina Kinderziekenhuis (Het WKZ) #cancerresearch

How can we tackle overtreatment? Recognition of advanced premalignant lesions with a high risk of progression to cancer is essential to improve clinical management of affected patients, and to prevent overtreatment in case of a low cancer risk. Infection with high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) may cause cancer of the anogenital tract, including cervical, anal, and vulvar cancers. These cancers develop through premalignant stages. Only a minority (~10-30%) is expected to progress to cancer, but are often treated. 6 Members of the PI3K-Akt-mTOR-focal adhesion pathway seem to be the critical regulators in HPV-induced cancers. With the help of this grant from KWF Kankerbestrijding, Renske Steenbergen and her team will functionally validate the role of these genes in the progression of premalignant disease to cancer, utilizing 3D models. I am glad to support and monitor this research. Interested in reading more about the granted projects? https://lnkd.in/eDHXhccq #oncology #research #vulvarcancer #analcancer

India’s cancer rates are surging. Mumbai’s Tata Memorial Hospital — the nation’s largest cancer hospital alone registers 70,000 new cases yearly. @Dr Sudeep Gupta, the new director of the hospital, warns that cases will double in the upcoming years, further widening the treatment gap. To address the issue, the #hospital has proposed a solution to the central government: the #hubandspoke model across India. https://lnkd.in/gUdX8cKd TataMemorialHospital WCI #cancer #hubandspoke #healthcare #cervicalcancer #oralcancer Karkinos Healthcare

Catherine Bontoft reports In Oncology News Today that well trained physiotherapy or osteopathic/chiropractor practitioners can help spot an early sarcoma diagnosis? Researchers in the United Kingdom’s at the University of Nottingham and national cancer charity Sarcoma UK have teamed up to launch a new online resource to help physiotherapists identify the signs and symptoms of sarcoma. The resource will also help physiotherapists to appropriately refer their clients to a general practitioner or provide them with the necessary information to seek medical attention themselves. Sarcoma cancers are relatively rare and can occur anywhere in the body and catching sarcoma at an early stage also means the cancer is less likely to have spread, and this increases the person’s chances of survival. In September 2020, Sarcoma UK launched their landmark report Delays Cost Lives, which showed that one in three (30 per cent) of patients wait at least six months after first consulting a healthcare professional before receiving an accurate diagnosis for their sarcoma. Sarcoma patients also described how, due to late diagnosis or misdiagnosis, they may blame themselves for not noticing symptoms or pushing a healthcare professional further. Sadly, some family members also see these delays in diagnosis as a possible difference between life and death. https://lnkd.in/dcfJRVV5 https://lnkd.in/dV8nAAvK

In the UAE, breast cancer, thyroid cervical cancer and colorectal cancer are the common types of cancer below 40 years of age. Dr Sara Al Bastaki, colorectal surgeon at Mediclinic Dubai, She also underscored 22 per cent of the UAE ’s colorectal cancer patients are below 40 years old. This is the same trend around the world as more than a dozen types of cancer are reportedly increasing among adults aged 50 and below. In the US, colorectal cancer has become the leading cause of cancer death among men under 50, while it has become the second leading cause of cancer death among American women.told Khaleej Times.This is challenging for the Government of UAE to introduce and implement comprehensive strategic framework on preventions for cancers for the people living in the UAE 2024 - 2028.The following are the risk factors #Sedentary #Lifestyle #Smoking #Obesity #Stress #Pollution #Dietary #Habits https://lnkd.in/dbFuc7ca

Lung cancer screening and "body checkups" in China Recently, I visited China again and had the chance to interact with clinicians and visit a hospital. A very frequent phenomenon in China are so-called "body checkups", CT scans of the chest or other examinations that are either self-paid or employer-paid, as part of a salary package. These chest CTs are often carried out on people who have no specific risk of lung cancer: Young, often female, many non-smokers without family history. These scans are often actively marketed by commercial providers. This of course raises concerns with regards to overdiagnosis, and indeed this has been studied - see the attached graph from Wang et al (DOI: 10.1016/j.chest.2022.08.2207). We see a steep raise in diagnosed cases of lung cancer, especially among women, which is not accompanied by a decrease in late-stage diagnosis or mortality. This is a pathognomonic sign of overdiagnosis. Of course this needs longer follow-up and more data about the "natural" progression of slow-growing adenocarcinomas - the observation period may just be too short, given that the raise in diagnosis started just around 2012, so there is only 5 years of follow-up. We know from other studies that adenocarcinomas are often relatively stable for several years before they start growing. Still, these CT-scans in low-risk persons are clearly not what we would consider evidence-based. As there seems to be relevant demand, and this practice will likely continue, what can be done: - Most important: Longer follow-up before any invasive measures - we know from the results of the International Early Lung Cancer Action Program (I-ELCAP) team that gound-glass lesions can safely be followed up over longer time - Lower radiation doses: As the benefit of these scans is not clear, at least the radiation dose should be carefully monitored and reduced - Establish targeted lung screening programs for at-risk-populations as an alternative Also, more data is needed on the "natural" course of indolent adenocarcinomas - is there something like "spontaneous regression" or adenocarcinoms? Or just slow progression? P.S.: I forgot to add the price for these examinations: Payment is around 15-30 Euro. In the wealthy cities, this is very affordable.