Lung Cancer – prevention and early diagnosis Lung Cancer Screening Programme in Greece, are we ready?
Online Conference November 15, 2021
On Monday, November 15, 2021, FairLife LCC is hosting an online conference, entitled «Lung Cancer – prevention and early diagnosis: Lung Cancer Screening Programme in Greece, are we ready?» The event will be presented and coordinated by journalist Elena Papadimitriou.
The main topic of the conference is the presentation of the results of a lung cancer screening study, conducted for the first time in Greece and developed by the Health Policy Institute, under the scientific supervision of Mr. Kyriakos Souliotis, Professor of Health Policy, Dean of the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, University of Peloponnese and Dr. Evi Hatziandreou, Public Health Expert and Vice President of FairLife LCC.
Mrs. Elena Linardou, Medical Oncologist, Board Member of FairLife LCC, Director, 4th Oncology Department, Metropolitan Hospital, President of the Scientific Committee HeCOG, will assist in the presentation and commentary of the study results.
Regarding the conference, Mrs. Korina Pateli-Bell, President of FairLife LCC, notes: «Lung cancer is one of the most common and serious types of cancer among both men and women, accounting for more deaths in Greece than breast, colon and prostate cancers combined. Only 16% of lung cancer cases are diagnosed at the early stages of the disease, and the problem is that most patients develop symptoms, when lung cancer is already at an advanced stage».
The conference is part of various actions, planned to be implemented in November by FairLife, the first non-profit organization in Greece, exclusively dedicated to Lung Cancer, within the context of informing the State authorities and raising public awareness, regarding the importance of prevention and early diagnosis in lung cancer treatment.
The event is honored by the participation of distinguished speakers from Greece and abroad.
The conference will be greeted by Mina Gaga, Deputy Minister of Health, Meletios-Athanasios Dimopoulos, Professor of Hematology- Oncology, Rector of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens as well as Dr. Heather Wakelee, President of the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) and Ewelina Szmytke, Vice President, Lung Cancer Europe.
A true life story «Unknown the violence of life» will be shared by the director, actor and poet Tsimaras Tzanatos.
Representing the medical and scientific community: Torsten Gerriet Blum, Board Member, European Respiratory Society (ERS), Zenia Saridaki, Medical Oncologist, President of the Hellenic Society of Medical Oncology, Stelios Loukidis, Professor of Respiratory Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, President of the Hellenic Thoracic Society, Christos Lionis, Professor of General Practice and Primary Health Care, School of Medicine, University of Crete, Christoforos Foroulis, Professor of Thoracic Surgery, Aristotle University Medical School, President of the Hellenic Society of Thoracic & Cardiovascular Surgeons, Kyriaki Tavernaraki, Radiologist, Registrar Α’, Department Radiological Society of Imaging and Interventional Radiology, «Sotiria» Hospital, Athens, Greece, Secretary General of Hellenic Radiological Society, Giorgos Pissakas, Radiation Oncologist, Coordinator Director, Radiation Oncology Department «Alexandra» Hospital, Vice President of the Hellenic Society of Radiation Oncology (ΕΕΑΟ).
The section will be coordinated by journalist Nelly Kapsi, Communication manager of FairLife LCC.
The pharmaceutical industry is represented by: Christos Antonopoulos, MD, PhD, EMBA, Director of Oncology- Hematology Business Unit, Board Member, AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals Greece, Sokratis Koulouris, MD, Chief Medical Value Officer, Roche Hellas, Christos Boukis, Value, Access & Policy Lead, Amgen Hellas, Nikolaos Hatzinikolaou, Head of Pfizer Oncology Greece, Cyprus, Malta.
Patients are represented by: Carolyn “Bo” Aldige, Vice Chair of Global Lung Cancer Coalition (GLCC),Founder and CEO Prevent Cancer Foundation, Caius Kim, Global Director, Lung Ambition Alliance, Kjeld Hansen, Chair of European Lung Foundation, Janette Rawlinson, Member of Patient Advisory Group ELF, Kaiti Apostolidou, President of the Hellenic Cancer Federation, Board Member of ΕCPC – European Cancer Patient Coalition, Katerina Koutsogianni, President of the Greek Patients Association, Zoi Grammatoglou, President of the Association KEFI.
The event is held under the auspices of the Hellenic Association of Pharmaceutical Companies (S.F.Ε.Ε) and of the following scientific companies: Hellenic Thoracic Society (HTS), Hellenic Society of Medical Oncology (HESMO), Hellenic Association of Lung Cancer (HeALC), Hellenic Society of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgeons (HCTSS), Hellenic Radiological Society (HELRAD.), Hellenic Society of Radiation Oncology (HESRO), Hellenic Foundation for Cancer Research (H.F.C.R.), European Respiratory Society (ERS). Also, of patients’ associations: Hellenic Cancer Federation (ΕLL.Ο.Κ), Greek Patients Association, Association of Cancer Patients, Volunteers, Friends, Doctors (Κ.Ε.F.Ι), European Lung Foundation (ΕLF), Global Lung Cancer Coalition (GLCC), International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC), Lung Cancer Europe (LuCE), και Lung Ambition Alliance (LAA).
The event is supported by the companies: Roche Hellas (distinguished sponsor), Pfizer Hellas, Amgen Hellas, AstraZeneca Greece, MSD (sponsors), PHARMASERVE-LILLY S.A.C.I., Takeda (supporters).
The agenda of the conference is hereby attached.
Detailed information about the conference:
https://fairlifelcc.com/en/lung-cancer-prevention-and-early-diagnosis/
The conference can be attended by the general public through fb and YouTube by subscribing to the following link https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN__iohv9URSkOVflFjJt81mg
Simultaneous interpretation will be provided in Greek and English. In order to listen to the interpretation, please note that you need to log in from the zoom application, which you can download via the following link https://zoom.us/download
Views expressed by guest speakers about the importance of prevention and early diagnosis
Mina Gaga, Deputy Minister of Health
«Prevention and early diagnosis: A «Breath of Life” against Lung Cancer. Prevention saves lives. Early diagnosis creates the conditions for effective treatment. This is the way to defeat it!»
Meletios-Athanasios Dimopoulos, Rector of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
«Lung cancer treatment has significantly improved, but prevention and early diagnosis are absolute priorities. Quit smoking and consult your doctor for the screening test that is now available. »
Zenia Saridaki, Medical Oncologist, President of the Hellenic Society of Medical Oncology
«As lung cancer continues to be so costly in terms of human lives, prevention, through smoking cessation, is becoming imperative in modern Greek society. At the same time, all of us, patients, carers and oncologists, emphasize the enormous importance of research, both clinical and translational, as the only means of finding new, innovative treatments that will allow us to live in a world free of lung cancer.»
Stelios Loukidis, Professor of Respiratory Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, President of the Hellenic Thoracic Society
«”Screening can help in detecting lung cancer early and consequently treating it effectively. Responsible information and cooperation of all relevant bodies are necessary, so as to include lung cancer screening in the National Strategic Health Development Plan. »
Christos Lionis, Professor of General Practice and Primary Health Care, School of Medicine, University of Crete
«”Emphasis should be placed on educating health professionals and primary care providers to understand risk perceptions and health literacy, so as to develop personalized behavior change interventions with a primary focus on smoking cessation and early detection of symptoms».
Kyriaki Tavernaraki, Radiologist, Registrar Α’, Department of Imaging and Interventional Radiology, «Sotiria» Hospital, Athens, Greece, Secretary General of Hellenic Radiological Society
«According to scientific data, screening with Low-Dose Chest Computed Tomography can lead to the diagnosis of lung cancer at an early stage».
Christoforos Foroulis, Professor of Thoracic Surgery, Aristotle University Medical School, President of the Hellenic Society of Thoracic & Cardiovascular Surgeons
« Lung cancer early diagnosis by low-dose chest computed tomography screening is the only way to surgically treat stage I lung cancer, where complete cure rates exceed 80%».
Giorgos Pissakas, Vice President of the Hellenic Society of Radiation Oncology
«”Prevention and early diagnosis is key against lung cancer. Prevention needs to be followed carefully and lung cancer may never bother us. But even if the disease pays us a visit, we must discover it as soon as possible. It is then, when we achieve very high cure rates with the minimum treatments, i.e. optimal results with the least amount of suffering».
Dr. Torsten Gerriet Blum, Member of the Executive Committee of the European Respiratory Society (ERS)
For a world with less lung cancer: “We need to radically upscale prevention, early detection and research efforts. Vitally, screening could save lives and cut healthcare costs – but we need the political will to make it a reality”
Carolyn “Bo” Aldige, Vice Chair of Global Lung Cancer Coalition (GLCC) , Founder and CEO Prevent Cancer Foundation
“There have been extraordinary advances in cancer treatment and screening in recent years, but uptake of screening is key to lung cancer no longer being #1 cancer killer globally.”
Caius Kim, Global Director, Lung Ambition Alliance (LAA)
Lung cancer screening saves lives and is also cost effective. A number of large, randomized studies clearly demonstrate the benefits of lung cancer screening; it is now time to act and save lives!
Ewelina Szmytke, Vice President, Lung Cancer Europe (LuCE)
Lung cancer is not simply a smokers’ disease. If you have lungs you may get lung cancer. So if you experience any disturbing symptoms or have a family history of lung cancer, don’t wait – get checked.
Dr. Heather Wakelee, President of the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer
Lung cancer remains a leading cancer killer but prevention and SCREENING will lead to a “world free of lung cancer”.
Kaiti Apostolidou –President of the Hellenic Cancer Federation, Board Member of ECPC- European Cancer Patient Coalition
«At ELLOK, we support the European Code against Cancer: NO to smoking, alcohol, overexposure to the sun, YES to exercise, Greek diet, screening, HPV vaccination, breastfeeding, all the above protect us from cancer and increase our overall healthy physical condition».
Zoi Grammatoglou President of the Association of Cancer Patients, Volunteers, Friends, Doctors, KEFI.
«Early diagnosis and the need for prevention are more urgent, since lung cancer is treatable if detected early. “Don’t be afraid and don’t be late.” Don’t be afraid, fear is never a good counselor. You need to keep your thoughts clear and your interest in staying healthy. You owe it not only to yourself, but also to your loved ones. Don’t be late, because the sooner you identify the problem, in case there is one, the easier and faster you will get rid of it ».