Рейтинг качества жизни

«Women’s Health» is a comprehensive program for improving the system of early diagnosis of breast cancer. The program is based on a technological approach to the establishment of the key stages of breast cancer early diagnosis, including the training of highly qualified radiologists and equipping medical institutions with modern diagnostic equipment.

Problems

Breast cancer is the most widespread and fastest growing cancer among women:

• In 2011, breast cancer was the most common cancer among women in the Kursk region;

• The increase in the incidence of breast cancer in the Kursk region in the period from 2001 to 2009 was 21%;

• In Zheleznogorsk (Kursk region) Breast cancer in stages 3-4 accounted for about 50% of the detected cases (on average in the Russian Federation, this figure was 36,5%).

Due to the fact that one of the main causes of high mortality from breast cancer in the Russian Federation is the late detection of the disease (stages 3-4), the «Women’s Health» early breast cancer diagnostic system was introduced in the Kursk region

1. Primary prevention — active work with the population.

Raising public awareness of the importance of breast cancer early diagnosis, ensuring the active participation of women in the medical examination program, increasing the oncological alertness of primary care doctors.

Events of the stage:

• Together with the experts of the National Medical Research Center of Oncology named after N. N. Blokhin information materials for women were developed and placed in all medical organizations of the city and at the city-forming enterprise PAO Mikhailovsky GOK;

• Training of primary care physicians to increase oncological alertness;

• Master classes for journalists;

• Information campaign in the media using videos about the need for regular medical examination;

• Open days in all medical organizations of the city.

2. Secondary prevention — development of screening

The stage is focused on identifying preclinical forms of breast cancer, improving the quality of early breast cancer diagnosis (screening mammography) by updating equipment and switching to digital platforms, improving the skills of specialists, as well as standardization and implementation of a quality control system.

Events of the stage:

• Modern digital mammography devices were purchased for medical institutions of Zheleznogorsk and Kursk Regional Clinical Oncology Dispensary, a system for transmitting and archiving DICOM images PACS was installed.

• A unified secure information network has been created for the exchange of mammographic images between medical institutions of Zheleznogorsk, the Kursk Oncological Dispensary and the NMRC of Oncology named after N. N. Blokhin;

• The international standard of mammographic studies BI-RADS2 has been introduced;

• A remote mammographic screening was organized, including independent viewing of mammograms by specialists of the N. N. Blokhin Oncology Research Center in the City Hospital No. 1 and the City Hospital No. 2 of Zheleznogorsk. COPC-MC remote screening software has been developed and implemented;

• If the disease is detected, women are sent to the regional oncological dispensary for additional diagnostics and comprehensive treatment, including surgical treatment with simultaneous breast reconstruction.

3. Tertiary prevention

Development of a routing system and psychosocial support for patients with breast cancer at all stages of treatment and after its completion. Observation contributes to improving the quality of life of patients and preventing relapses.

Events of the stage:

• Advanced training of medical psychologists-employees of state institutions in the field of oncopsychology (72 academic hours);

• Methodological recommendations on the organization of the work of an oncopsychologist in specialized medical institutions and group psychotherapy for patients with breast cancer have been developed;

• In the Kursk Regional Clinical Oncological dispensary, the rate of an oncopsychologist was introduced;

• In Zheleznogorsk free psychotherapeutic groups for patients with breast cancer are host regularly.

The mechanism of practice implementation for beneficiaries

• The patient goes to a primary care facility to undergo early diagnosis of breast cancer as part of a medical examination;

• The Описание of the results of the examination is carried out by a radiologist according to a formalized protocol based on the international standard BI-RADS. The Описание is carried out by two independent specialists;

• Depending on the detected pathological changes and the assigned category, the patient is assigned a certain order and term of the next examination;

• Patients with suspected breast cancer are sent to an oncological dispensary for confirmation/diagnosis and treatment;

• After the completion of treatment, the domiciliary oncologist offers patients to undergo psychological rehabilitation free of charge as part of group psychotherapy on the basis of the center for psychological help;

Online support platform for women with breast cancer «Together+»

Since the fall of 2021, patients are invited to receive informational and psychosocial support from a multidisciplinary team of specialists based on the online platform «Together+» at www.vmeste-bcc.ru .

The platform was created by the Charity Foundation «FURTHER» with the support of the Presidential Grants Fund and the Potanin Foundation. This is the first charity service in Russia that provides comprehensive support for patients diagnosed with breast cancer and their loved ones. A multidisciplinary team of experienced specialists, which includes an oncologist, a lymphologist, a nutritionist, an endocrinologist, a clinical psychologist, a medical lawyer and stress coaches, helps to understand your diagnosis, tune in to treatment, cope with a difficult psychological condition, recover faster at all stages of treatment and after its completion.

Two programs are presented on the platform — for those who start treatment and those who have completed treatment in a hospital. All programs complement the treatment, allowing you to return to a full life as quickly and comfortably as possible.  They are provided free of charge for patients and their loved ones — thanks to donations from private and legal entities;

To get help, the patient needs to register on the website www.vmeste-bcc.ru . After registration, the patient receives the status of «resident». This means that they can seek help and take part in events on a regular basis

Conditions for replication of the practice:

• Initiate a project on your territory by inviting the Foundation as an operator or an independent expert;

• Initiate a project on your territory, built upon the basic experience of this practice.

Replication assistance from the practice team:

• General consulting, organization of individual training of the screening team (radiologists, radiolaborants), including remotely and in person on the basis of the N.N. Blokhin Oncology Research Center;

• Provision of methodological manuals on standardization of mammography for radiologists and radiologic technologists;

• Training of medical specialists in clinical communication skills;

• Preparation of educational materials;

• Organization of internship in breast cancer screening centers in Germany;

• Connecting patients with breast cancer to the online service «Together +» (informational, psychological support).