Development of Hereditary Cancer Prevention Measures in Pskov Region

Closed

Cancer is the second leading cause of death in Latvia (LV) and Russia (RU). Hereditary cancer (HC) accounts for 10-20% of all cancers. The lifetime risk of developing cancer disease for carriers of cancer predisposing mutations is up to 80%. It is 10-20 times higher than for the rest of the population. Unlike other forms of cancer, HC is the type of cancer that can and should be prevented. The HC cases remain high not because of lack of scientific knowledge on the subject, but rather limited knowledge and experience exchange within the greater community of cancer specialists. Recently new and alternative methods for HC management, mainly preventative in nature, have been introduced and are currently practiced to a high level in Latvia (LV), meanwhile still lacking in Russia (RU). Through this project, the researchers from Latvia - Hereditary Cancer Institute of Riga Stradins University (RSU) intend to transfer a broad spectrum of knowledge on HC to colleagues in Russia, Pskov Onkological Dispensary (POD). By doing so, the best available knowledge and HC management practices will become available to the colleagues in RU, and will be put to use during and long after this project to ensure the most up-to-date HC management in Pskov region. The overall objective of this project is to improve life quality in RU and LV by developing effective population based hereditary cancer screening and management system model and combating hereditary cancer in border regions. More specifically the project will address the following specific objectives 1) to ensure information and experience exchange about HC, its preventitive measures and management; 2) to raise awareness on HC as managable and curable disease; 3) to identify high HC risk individuals through HC screening pilot project and 4) to develop HC prevention and management base in Pskov. To achieve these objectives the activities of the project will include exhange of knowledge on HC management in the form of study trips and trainging programmes for POD personnel, carrying out pilot project on hospital and registry screening of HC cases and developing the data base in POD, development of HC management strategy for Pskov region, equipping and setting up HC centre in Pskov as well as a number of awareness raising and visibility actions. The project's target groups are personnel of POD involved in HC management, HC patients and their relatives in Pskov region as well as general public of Pskov region. The implementation of the project will contribute to improving the living standard of HC patients and high-risk people who after end of the project will be better informed about HC as a managable and curable desease and will seek doctor's advice thus improving their lives.

Medium