early detection and cure for cancer

Training initiative in the fight against cancer
Required supporting academic studies at ESMO

Vienna (pte016/26.09.2012/13: 40) - The promotion of academic cancer research is a milestone in the improvement of medical treatments. To this conclusion is today, Wednesday, came the head of the Austrian medicine at the ESMO Congress 2012 in the so-called "world capital of modern cancer research," Vienna. It is an education reform, which will be adapted to meet European standards. The modern medicine, including cancer treatments has improved steadily. "Many types of cancer are now no longer seen as a death sentence, but rather as a chronic disease," says the Austrian Minister of Health Alois Stoeger.

Life expectancy is growing



In the past 50 years, life expectancy of cancer patients has increased to double. "In Europe and the U.S., the survival figures ran equally. During 1950 to 1954, only 35 percent of the patients survived their disease over a period of more than five years, that number increased between 1999 and 2005 to 69 percent," explains Christoph Zielinski, Coordinator of the Comprehensive Cancer Center Vienna. This trend is expected to increase steadily.

To ensure a cure for cancer, the disease can be detected early. Against the most common forms, such as breast, prostate and colon cancer, there are therapeutic and promising developments. "Testicular tumor or different types of leukemia can be cured today using chemotherapy," explains Heinz Ludwig, Chief of Medical Oncology and Hematology Department of the Wilhelmina Hospital Vienna, opposite press text.

Prevention essential

The expert stressed frequently that own prevention measures are needed to cancer arise in the first place can be. Here are the three main factors that diet, physical activity, and in particular a so-called meaning-making of any person to go to their own life satisfaction. "This information can be found in any brochure, but it is essential to prevent diseases," says Ludwig.

An important role is played by the training of cancer specialists. The five-year internal medicine training will be extended this to three years additional training in hematology and medical oncology. The Austrian cancer specialists are here for expertise in international comparison.

Gastl Günther, President of ÖGHO h, further explains that the new Clinical Trials Directive of the European Commission in 2014 to enter into force, which allow cancer patients access to the latest treatments. These tests are important both for victims and for the development of drugs and for the improvement of already approved drugs.

Photos of the event are available for download below.