An azalea (from research) for Mother’s Day. The flower of the Airc Foundation has become the symbol of this special anniversary: in 37 years, since 1984, it has made it possible to harvest over 275 million euros to support the work of scientists committed to developing methods for early diagnosis and more effective and better tolerated therapies for cancers affecting women. Sunday 9 May, compatibly with the indications of the health authorities, the Airc volunteers return to the squares for distribute the azalea for a donation of 15 euros. Together with the plant, a guide is delivered with information on prevention, cancer treatment and some easy recipes for Mother’s Day (which is celebrated on Sunday 9 May). It is also possible to receive the azalea directly at home or to order it on Amazon.it. Information and updates on the lafestadellamamma.it website.
In 2020, over 180 thousand diagnoses
About one in three women affected by cancer in the course of their life: in 2020 they were estimated in our country over 182 thousand new diagnoses in the female gender. The most frequent new cases of cancer among women were: breast (55,000), colorectal (20,200), lung (13,300), thyroid (9,800), uterus (8,300), pancreas (7,400), melanoma (6,700), non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (6,100), stomach (6,100), ovary (5,100). It is necessary to continue investing in cancer research because the possibility of having new treatments starts from afar: Patients now benefit from the results that researchers have achieved thanks to decades of studies and investments. Early diagnosis and increasingly effective therapies mean that today in Italy there are almost 3.6 million patients who have overcome cancer, an increase of about 37% compared to 10 years ago.
Colorectal and lung cancers
In women, the 5-year survival from diagnosis is approximately 63 percent, compared with 54 percent for men. The figure rises to 87 percent for breast cancer, where research has achieved very important results. There is still a lot to do for the more aggressive forms, those that do not respond to the therapies available today, such as for triple negative breast cancer or metastatic breast cancer. In recent years, the survival rate in cases of colorectal cancer reached around 65 percent, thanks to screening programs, early diagnosis and improved therapies, which are increasingly precise and targeted. The data indicate an increase in the incidence of this disease in the female population, attributable to the adoption of unhealthy behaviors. The growth of lung cancer cases among women is also particularly worrying: only in the last year there was a +3.4 per cent. To reduce the fundamental risk, eliminate the first cause, smoking: 85-90% of lung cancers caused precisely by this harmful habit.
Paola and Anna, faces of the countryside
Testimonials of the Azalea research campaign are two mothers, both working alongside Airc. Paola Storti, researcher at the Department of Medicine and Surgery of the University of Parma, leads an Airc project on multiple myeloma, a malignant tumor of plasma cells residing in the bone marrow. I decided to become a researcher at university, initially driven by curiosity for such a stimulating job and always potentially different from the previous day. My research aims to identify the characteristics of the microenvironment that allow to identify the progression of the disease early and to define its mechanisms. Next to her Anna, volunteer: In 1972 I was diagnosed with uterine cancer, I was only 15 years old. If I look back, today I am aware that I have survived. Since then, research has made important advances for countless patients. I met Airc almost by chance, I was a parent and class representative and I have been involved over the years alongside the Foundation. As a volunteer, I too feel part of the research and can contribute my time to support the work of our scientists.
May 8, 2021 (change May 8, 2021 | 13:42)
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