Background of the Project :

CANcare, the cancer screening programme is a project for screening breast, thyroid oral and cervical cancers in women aged between 18-60 years residing in Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Alappuzha and Idukki districts of Kerala was launched at Pushpagiri Medical College in December 2020 after approval from CEI- Italian Bishops Conference, Committee and Service for Charitable Action in the Third World.

In order to deliver effective cancer screening, it requires the coordinated services of an enormous array of health care professionals including administrators, surgeons, oncologists, radiologists, pathologists, nurses, social workers and volunteers from multiple organizations in our community. The immense task of organizing and coordinating this diverse assemblage of individuals and services is accomplished through a group of selected leaders who have demonstrated curiosity, passion and the vision to create something better for our community.

The CANcare programme was devoted to improving the survival and quality of life of cancer patients through early diagnosis, by emphasizing prevention programs, and by coordinating education for patients.

Objectives:

1. To design and implement a programme for screening breast, thyroid, oral and cervical cancers, mainly in women residing in Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Idukki and Kottayam districts of Kerala state.
2. To provide financial and medical assistance to those women found to have suspected malignancies during the screening programme.
3. To provide guidance and medical advice in choosing the appropriate forms of treatment, among those women who are confirmed to have malignancy during the screening and diagnosis phase.

Activities Conducted So Far:

The official inauguration of cancare program was on 8/3/21 on International Women’s Day by Dr AL Sheeja, District Medical Officer, Pathanamthitta. The programme was blessed by H.G.Most. Rev.Dr. Thomas Mar Koorilos, Metropolitan Archbishop of Thiruvalla, and Patron of Pushpagiri Group of Institutions.

Publicity for the CANCARE Program was achieved through videos by PB Nooh IAS, who was the previous District Collector of Pathanamthitta District.

Screening programme: A cancer screening programme was conducted for the benefit of women residing in Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam and Idukki districts of Kerala state.

The screening services were available for breast, thyroid, oral and cervical cancers

1. Awareness classes: At every cancer screening camps, awareness classes and personalised health education were provided about cancer, its prevention and warning signs. The classes were conducted by trained doctors and personalised health education will be delivered by a trained
2. Screening for Breast malignancy: All the women attending the cancer screening fair were subjected to a thorough clinical examination by an oncology-trained lady health worker. The health worker examined the breast by using iBreastExam TM (a portable breast scanner) and also looked for breast lumps, induration, lymphadenopathy or any other suspicious lesions. The examination was done in a private area, after obtaining consent from the participant. Any participant with any suspicious lesion will be referred for a breast ultrasound or mammogram, as per their age.
3. Screening for thyroid malignancy: All the women attending the cancer screening camp were subjected to a thorough clinical examination by an oncology-trained health worker. The health worker checked for neck swelling, lymphadenopathy or any other suspicious lesions. The examination was done after obtaining consent from the participant. Any participant with any suspicious lesion was referred for a neck ultrasound at Pushpagiri Medical College Hospital, Thiruvalla.
4. Screening for cervical malignancy: All the women attending the cancer screening camps were subjected to a VIA (Visual Inspection of Acetowhite Areas) examination using a portable colposcope. The examination involves smearing the patients uterine cervix with acetic acid and looking for a change in colour. Suspects were sent to Pushpagiri medical college for the Papanikolaou smear examination.
5. Screening for oral malignancy: All the women attending the cancer screening camps were subjected to an oral examination by a dentist using a portable velscope. The dentist will look for discolourations, swellings, lymphadenopathy and pre-cancerous lesions. Any participant with any suspicious lesion were referred for a punch biopsy at Pushpagiri medical college, Thiruvalla.
6. Referral services: All the referral services were provided by Pushpagiri Medical College Hospital. Any participant, found to be positive on initial screening, were referred to the base hospital for more investigations. The following investigations were provided free of cost to the participants, if the initial screening is positive Site of Cancer Initial screening
7. Guidance and advice: The community health nurses and health educators were in touch with the patient and offered healthcare advice as per latest medical norms. This personnel helped the patient to choose the right form of treatment and gave counselling services. The Public Relations Officers offered the patient to access the required financial resources from various schemes available to them.
8. Collaborations: Camps were conducted in collaboration with FHCs,Taluk Hospitals, NGOs, Parishes, and Youth movement for the conduct of camps

Table No.1 Screenings Tests offered free of costs through CANcare

As per the data on 28 May 2022, 81 camps have been organised in various panchayaths and blocks of Alappuzha, kottayam and Pathanamthitta districts.