The Comprehensive Cancer Management Program in East Azerbaijan in Iran

Due to the fact that the number of the patients suffering from cancer is increasing in today's world, cancer has become one of the major health concerns; and attempts to manage it have been one of the top priorities throughout the world. According to the W.H.O statistics, in 1985, 7.6 million new cases of cancer had been registered in the world. This has been increased to 10.5 million cases in 2000. It has been estimated that this number will reach 15 million in 2020. Sixty percent of these cases will happen in the developing countries. In Iran, 70000 new cases of cancer happen annually. Every year 30000 patients die because of cancer. In East Azerbaijan, according to the statistics revealed by Digestive Disease Research Center, 5000 new cases of cancer have been registered in 1385. Statistics revealed by East Azerbaijan Health Department in 1383, indicates that 2076 cases have lost their lives which include 15.3 % of the total mortality rate. Almost half of this (1280 cases) had gastrointestinal cancer origins.

It is estimated that the state of having longer life expectancy and elder population in the near future in the country would lead to a dramatic increase in cancer rate so that the number of the cases will b twofold.

In 1385, the comprehensive cancer management program in East Azerbaijan was developed in line with the national comprehensive program of cancer control. Investigations conducted by the Liver and Gastrointestinal Research Center of Tabriz Medical University and also the views and comments provided by the professors and authorities in this field in Tabriz Medical University contributed to the founding of this program. The city of Azarshar was chosen as the population lab and the program was completed in 1386.

The following goals have been set within the framework of this program:

And also the views and comments provided by the professors and authorities in this field in Tabriz Medical University contributed to the founding of this program. The city of Azarshar was chosen as the population lab and the program was completed in 1386.

The following goals have been set within the framework of this program:

1.      Community outreach public education efforts addressing cancer, risk factors, and cancer prevention

2.      Efforts addressing reduction of environmental, professional, and biological exposure to risk factors

3.      Detection of environmental risk factors in the province

4.      Facilitating screening programs concerning early diagnosis of cancers

5.      Efforts addressing acceleration of collaborative medical team works and providing appropriate economic treatment services

6.      Providing rehabilitation services, and pain-relief treatments for the patients to improve their life quality

To be able to fulfill the mentioned goals, various activities have been considered in the program. A number of these activities have already been initiated. They include educational programs for the prevention of cancer related risk factors. Various educational classes have been set up; pamphlets and posters have been distributed, and the program is still running. (For more information refer to the Cancer Management Program in Azarshahr)

In order to provide the cancer patients with a better treatment, in the Liver and Gastrointestinal Research Center, a special team has been made up focusing on the gastrointestinal cancers in the past 18 months. More than 250 patients have received the required services. (For more information refer to the Treatment Team for Gastrointestinal Cancers)

Future Programs

1.      Conducting more investigations on the current status of cancer risk factors including: tobacco, diet, physical inactivity, and obesity in Azarshahr via research proposals suggested by the professionals in the related fields such as nutrition, physical medicine, and social medicine

2.      Continuing community outreach public education efforts addressing cancer risk factors in Azarshahr via setting up educational classes and seminars, distribution of posters and pamphlets, and using billboards 

3.      Having a special program after Ramadan in junior and senior high schools in Azarshahr including designing and installing posters with the themes like: tobacco, nutrition, physical inactivity, and obesity within 4 months; and in the fifth month encouraging the students, teachers, school authorities, and parents to take part in a related contest

4.      Community outreach public education efforts addressing cancer and risk factors in food industry via setting up special classes for farmers and food industry authorities or distributing pamphlets among them

5.      Making any attempts like public education efforts, pamphlet distribution; using local media, poster and billboard for informing people, instructing women to perform breast self-exam, alerting physicians to the cancer symptoms via retraining them which would all lead to early diagnosis of cancer

6.      Expanding more specialized teams for other types of cancer and taking more steps toward founding The Cancer Institute

7.      Improving the treatment facilities in the province especially radiotherapy facilities

8.      Providing the impecunious patients who come from remote cities or villages with suitable accommodation

9.      Alerting the students to the importance of making NGOs in favor of expanding healthy lifestyle in the society