Cancer is not put on pause, patients with this diagnosis today, despite the anniversary, must be able to obtain adequate medical care, said, responding remotely to the questions “MK” and our readers, the chief oncologist of Ministry of health of Russia, academician of RAS Andrey KAPRIN. — That cancer patients today were the most susceptible to coronavirus as they have reduced immunity, especially during treatment. Cancer will not wait until the pandemic is over, it continues its destructive effect.
in this situation, How to get on reception to doctors to pass tests to be tested, to receive treatment?
Indeed, today, when death came to our country in a new guise, important as and immediately after the war, to mobilize all forces to help cancer patients. They were under a double death blow.
during the isolation of sick people with suspected or detected a tumor, go to the experts? Especially if someone found the coronavirus? Is it possible remotely to obtain or adjust drug therapy? The disease will not pause.
— it is Known that the coronavirus is especially dangerous for chronically ill. And what precautions must abide by cancer patients to avoid more and COVID-19?
— Cancer is also related to chronic because the immune system in these patients is weakened. Therefore, such patients must comply with a particularly strict regime of isolation and personal hygiene. The rules are known, and they are simple: washing hands often, to process antiseptic skin and the surface to which the sick had touched, etc. And most importantly — to limit social contacts. All this will help protect against possible contamination.
— And what if there is a suspicion that cancer patients infected with coronavirus?
— to Limit any contact with him. Perfectly be isolated until the diagnosis is confirmed. If this is not possible, to comply with hygiene rules and security measures. Especially after the use of patients common places (kitchen, toilet, shower). To withstand a pause for at least an hour and handle all surfaces after finding the location, use of family member with suspected COVID-19. Very effective against chlorine-based products. And when the temperature increases, coughing and breathing difficulties as quickly as possible to seek medical help.
“Oncologists work in shifts”
Andrei is now part of your redesigned clinics for patients with COVID-19. In particular, the Institute of urology them. Lopatkina. Does this mean that doctors will pay less attention to the patients? Handle it?
Under the infectious diseases Department peroborudovani not only the space research Institute of urology. Of course, doctors specialized medical institutions has increased. But none of our patients will not remain without assistance. Doctors work in shifts to help the greatest number of patients.
— Such a time. It is necessary to wait. Whether in Moscow or in Russia among cancer patients died of coronavirus?
— While early to speak about the deaths of cancer patients from coronavirus infection new, and experience in its treatment are minimal. But cancer patients need to carefully monitor their condition-body temperature, the slightest changes in breathing. They are especially important to observe the regime of self-isolation.
— is now the number of cases of cancer? And what new problems have arisen on the background of the pandemic coronavirus?
— We do not see a sharp rise in such diseases. In our hospitals treated about the same number of patients as they were before the epidemic. But due to the fact that some specialized agencies redeveloped for the treatment of patients with coronavirus, the load on doctors has increased dramatically. And we, as lead Agency, assisting the profile of Oncology, accept the main stream of the patients themselves.
There is another problem. Routine medical examinations during a pandemic temporarily suspended. Therefore decreased the number of newly identified cancer patients. But it can adversely affect the detection of patients with the first stage of the disease, and will increase the number of patients with late stage cancer.
the most important thing is to overcome a difficult milestone, which concerns the life and death of Russians in connection with the pandemic coronavirus. I hope that soon this ordeal will end. Although cancer does not give up. In Russia in the last 10 years (2008 to 2018) the number of cancer patients grew by 23%. In total on the account with malignancies today is 3.76 million Russians.
75 years of struggle and victory
Andrei Sakharov, and all the same: tomorrow is a landmark for our country’s anniversary — the establishment of cancer services in Russia. What role in life of Russia has played and plays it is a state decision, 1945? What are the latest technologies for diagnosis and treatment of patients entered into clinical practice? Still, it’s been 75 long years…
— Whenever I read this unique document — the decision of Sovnarkoma of the USSR from April 30, 1945 — never ceases to amaze me how perceptive it was. How large have seen the task of its authors are academics Boris Petrovsky and Alexander Savitsky. They initiated the preparation of a historic decision.
In particular, Alexander Savitsky in 1945 he was chief oncologist of Ministry of health of the USSR and was in charge he created a new structure — Control PRotionally institutions. For almost 10 years he was Director of the Central cancer Institute, embodying the ideas of his great teacher after P. A. Herzen.
He was one of the authors of the public dispensary system of cancer care in the country, formulated in the same ruling, 1945. And after 2 years in a devastated economy was built 126 regional oncologic dispensary. Opened more than 300 offices incommodi in urban clinics, began to equip the industry with x-ray drugs, to create specialized laboratories.
Also, since 1945, introduced mandatory registration of all patients with malignant tumors. And 1950-th years the Soviet Union formed a system of free routing the cancer patients, which survived until our days.
of Course, all this was not created in a vacuum. In 1898 in Moscow, a decision was made on the construction of the first in Europe to Institute the treatment of tumors, led by his brilliant military surgeon, Professor of Moscow Imperial University Lev Levshin. He initiated the introduction of statistics in Oncology. Established the first experimental laboratory at the Institute where I first started to use tissue culture for research. And began to study the immunology of tumors, which today creates innovative medicines to fight cancer cells.
the results were announced at the I all-Union Congress on cancer diseases in 1914. Even then, in addition to surgery, the Institute used x-ray chemicals, immune serum-oxidants.
But the real breakthrough in the treatment of cancer patients has occurred in the twenty-first century. In clinical practice came the latest technology study of tumors and treatment of diseases. Appeared brand new a cure for cancer — targeted, literally, beating the target. When a substance that kills cancer cells, is delivered directly into the tumor. Now this method is one of the key in the fight against cancer.
But perhaps the most effective today that offer science and practice, is immunotherapy. It does not destroy cancer cells in the usual sense of the word, but makes them visible to the immune system, which destroys them. By the way, for the invention of this method of cancer treatment in 2018 awarded the Nobel prize. Scientists have proven that a powerful weapon against anabaena may be the immunity of the patient, reprogrammed in a certain way. Based on this discovery developed and new effective drugs.
Part of today’s practice of cancer treatment and concordiarte (a type of nuclear medicine), radiotherapy, brachytherapy and many more.
Today we are participants of the next stage of development of cancer��logicheskoe the help of the Russians, — said in conclusion, academician Andrei Dmitrievich Kaprin. — From 2019, our country is implementing a national project for the fight against cancer, comparable to the scale of the challenges with the decree of 1945. Like 75 years ago, its main message — the struggle for health and life of Russians. Now is our time to make history. The main thing — not to betray the hopes of the people that the enemy named cancer will be defeated.
