The tumor registry, the essential tool for ensuring public health and understanding the spread of oncological diseases in Sardinia, is at the center of the conference in the conference room of the Businco Oncology Hospital in Cagliari. The meeting was born with the aim of shedding light on the importance of a reliable and updated monitoring system to effectively address the alarming spread of tumor diseases on the island, which today has reached worrying levels.
"The non-operationality of the tumor registry, established by regional law in 2012, deprives us of an updated and complete vision of the spread of oncological pathologies in the different areas of Sardinia", declare the organizers. Without this tool, in fact, the health authorities are limited in their control and prevention actions, especially in relation to specific risks that may be associated with certain industrial activities or local environmental factors .
The conference, promoted by six industry associations – AIEA (Italian Association of former Asbestos Exposed Persons), ASPAO (Sardinian Association for Prevention and Oncology Assistance), Sa Luxi Pro Tumor Registry Committee, Medicina Democratica Sardegna, Associazione Presidio Piazzale Trento and AREA Sardegna (Regional Association of former Asbestos Exposed Persons) – will see the participation of experts, scholars and institutional representatives of regional, national and international importance, who will discuss the need for a systematic data collection tool to address an increasingly dramatic epidemiological situation.
The data provided by Istat are eloquent: in 2021, tumors became the leading cause of death in Sardinia, with 33.01% of deaths, equal to 5,244 people. An increase compared to 2020, which accounted for 32% of deaths, well above the national average of 29.4% . "This constant increase is an alarm signal that can no longer be ignored", underline Francesco Carta of Medicina Democratica Sardegna and Giancarlo Nonis of the Comitato Sa Luxi Pro Registro Tumori, among the main organizers of the event.
The conference aims not only to raise public awareness, but also to stimulate a rapid institutional response: «It is important for Sardinia to be able to count on a functioning Tumor Registry, which allows us to monitor, analyze and prevent cancer cases, but also to identify possible causes and plan remediation interventions where necessary».
In the video Maria Teresa Ionta, medical oncologist and Sardinian Association for Prevention and Oncological Assistance (ASPAO).