The Regional Health Service (SESARAM) currently monitors about 2,500 cancer patients. Ana Paula Vieira confirmed the numbers while attending a conference, ‘Cancer, from prevention to rehabilitation’ organised by the Regional Directorate of Health to mark World Cancer Day (4th of February).
The director of the Oncology Service of SESARAM places breast and lung cancers at the top of the list, with cases of lung cancer increasing significantly in Madeira.
According to the oncologist, the incidence of lung cancer is mainly due to smoking habits, noting that the increase in numbers can be explained, in part, by new cases among women, as a result of the fact that there are more women smokers.
Ana Paula Vieira reaffirmed the importance of investing in anti-smoking awareness campaigns and for the need of lung cancer screening. However, Pedro Ramos, Regional Secretary for Health was cautious in his promise to make provision for lung cancer screening by the end of the year, and covered himself with a caveat stating that the ‘promise is conditional.’ He went on to say that the Regional Public Health System, is working in this direction – implementing the screening – and that he hoped to have an answer by the end of the year.”
Regarding the numbers, Ana Paula Vieira stated that in the latest official figures report (2022), there are about 1,500 new cases of cancer per year in the Region. This trend is set to increase until 2030. These figures are the latest predictions issued by the World Health Organisation.
Regarding initiatives such as the one taking place today at the Jesuit College, Ana Paula Vieira focuses on the role SESARAM can play in prevention but also highlights the need to “bring a message of hope” to patients and their families. She further highlighted the improvement in cancer treatments, saying that they are becoming increasingly personalised.
Regarding the recurring lack of medicines in the Hospital, including cancer drugs, Ana Paula Vieira noted that the role of the doctor, in these situations, is very much to “mitigate as much as possible the impact that this may have on their patients.”
Concluding, the director reiterated that the oncology department needed to be bigger and recruit more professionals to ensure that all cancer patients were given the best care possible.
Samantha Gannon
info at madeira-weekly.com
