The Azores Oncology Centre (COA) - "Prof. Dr. José Conde" has already covered about 50 thousand Azoreans in their screening programmes conducted between 2014 and 2016, revealed the Regional Secretary for Health today.
 
Luís Cabral spoke during a visit to COA, an institution that has registered a new dynamics following the Action Plan for the Restructuring of the Regional Health Service that was implemented in the beginning of this legislative period.
 
The Regional Secretary highlighted the implementation of a new screening during this legislative period directed to colon and rectal cancer (ROCCRA). It began in 2014 and covered 8,276 Azorean, which corresponds to a percentage of about 32%.
 
In turn, the breast cancer screening (ROCMA), which began in 2009, is now in its fourth round. Between 2015 and 2016, it covered more than 20 thousand women, "which represents a participation rate of almost 85%," stressed Luís Cabral.
 
Regarding to cervical cancer screening (ROCCA), the government official stressed that it is now in its round. Between 2014 and 2016, more than 20 thousand women have been screened, corresponding to a participation rate of almost 30%."
 
Luís Cabral stressed the importance of these screenings for early detection, "which has allowed a timely response and that most of these Azoreans had a higher probability of survival."
 
Following the efforts of COA in cancer prevention, the Secretary for Health highlighted its focus on anti-smoking campaigns, since it is "one of the major causes of cancer in the Azores."
 
"One of the main reasons for the high incidence of cancer in the Region is tobacco consumption and, for that reason, the Government has carried out two advertising campaigns, which are having the desired impact, together with other measures implemented, including smoking cessation consultations; the latter are available at all regional health units from August," said Luís Cabral.
 
More recently, the Government established and conducted an oral cancer screening. The Regional Secretary highlighted the relevance of this initiative and its organisation because the Azores are "the only region of the country that provides dental consultations under the Regional Health Service."
 
With this screening, the Regional Oncology Centre is conducting four screenings in different areas, representing "a very significant increase during a legislative period. This is an excellent measure for early prevention and detection of various types of cancer in the Region."