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II European Head and Neck Cancer (HNC) Early Diagnosis Week has finished in Kazakhstan. It is a socially significant campaign, that took place in two stages in four cities of Kazakhstan such as, Almaty, Karaganada, Ust-Kamenogorsk, and Astana.

There were 530 dentists, ENT specialists and oncologists educated by leading specialists from Russia and Kazakhstan within first stage of the campaign. For instance, there were 108 specialists upgraded their qualifications in Almaty, 123 visitors participated the seminar in Karaganda, 180 specialists participated in Ust-Kamenogorsk, and 119 doctors in Astana.  

From August 1 to September 23 there was a hotline (8-800-080-5058) functioning within second stage of the campaign; over 2000 people made an appointment via hotline for free of charge checkup by specialists. Information about European Head and Neck Cancer (HNC) Early Diagnosis Week in Kazakhstan was translated to the citizens of four cities of Kazakhstan within a massive media campaign.    Press-conferences were arranged in Almaty, Karaganada, Ust-Kamenogorsk, and Astana, as a result, 40 national and local media, websites and social network have published articles specifying our hotline number for the public.  

Doctor of medical science and director of Kazakh National Oncology and Radiology Research Institution Dilyara Kaydarova said, “In 2015 Kazakhstan became member of the European Head and Neck Society, EHNS. It is a professional entity whose key target is to research head and neck cancer. Being established in 2006 it is nowadays well-known and recognized all over the world.  Arrangement of European Head and Neck Cancer (HNC) Early Diagnosis Week in Kazakhstan complies with the State program “Densaulyk” for the years 2016-2020. An objective of the Head and Neck Cancer (HNC) Early Diagnosis Week is to build an apprehensive attitude to the cancer and define a certain action plan when identifying initial symptoms of a disease amongst related specialists/doctors, and also it is aimed to increase joint responsibility among citizens for their own health and give clear understanding that it is a lot better to prevent cancer than treat it at later stages.”

During three months there were social videos and articles given about European Head and Neck Cancer (HNC) Early Diagnosis Week in many clinics all around Kazakhstan. Social videos were broadcasted on “Almaty” TV-channel, and on big screens of subway stations in Almaty. There were also informative banners placed on the busiest crossroads in centers of Almaty and Astana cities.  

About half a million people received an  sms- or e-mail-announcements specifying our hotline number  and invitation to pass a free checkup.

Starting from September 19 to 23 this year there were  1 335 patients who passed checkups by our multidisciplinary team of specialists consisting of oncologists, ORT specialists, and dentists. During those days of diagnostics over 100 people were sent to additional follow-up examinations with suspected cancer. Over 145 people were diagnosed with neoplasms benign, inveterate and pre-malignant diseases. All diagnosed patients received detailed information materials and recommendations from our specialists.

Head and neck cancer is the 6^th most frequent type of cancer in the world. Despite the availability of effective methods of surgical, chemo, radio or targeted treatment and therapies, mortality factor among patients within first year after diagnosis is 50%. Head and neck cancer is most often diagnosed at a late stages, when the treatment is very difficult and complicated. The sooner cancer is diagnosed and the sooner an adequate treatment is assigned, the higher patient’s chances for healing are. It is absolutely no exaggeration to state that, every day is crucial for healing!

Past European Head and Neck Cancer (HNC) Early Diagnosis Week clearly demonstrated the importance of timely examination of patients to diagnose a dangerous disease and how vital health-related mindfulness of people is.

“These types of events remind all of us about the danger of neglecting the disease by patients and improper diagnosis of the diseases by doctors”,  says Marina Engibaryan, the Chief of head and neck division of Rostov Institute of Cancer Research and candidate of medical science, “Decrease of cancer precociousness amongst therapists, ORT specialists, dentists leads to results when patients do not receive a proper treatment,  and sometimes even worse when patients receive an improper treatment resulting into accelerated growth of tumor such as,  thermal exposure and iatrophysics.  The reason for that is failure of oncologists to build processional communication with other specialists. There are also patients who fail for months and years to visit a doctor and hope that the disease will be gone on its own.  

We have got a lot of work to be done to increase awareness of people about symptoms and signs of head and neck cancer and development of early diagnosis. The ultimate objective of all that work are saved lives. This socially valuable project is arranged with an information support of Merk company”.  

There are 1700 cases of head and neck tumors diagnosed in Kazakhstan annually.  Most of the cases those are patients with diseases at late III-IV stages. Treatment of cancer at those locations usually implies complex surgical procedures that result into disabilities and worsening quality of life of patients.

It is a second year in a row that our country is participating Head and Neck Cancer (HNC) Early Diagnosis Week under the guidance of the European Head and Neck Society, EHNS), Ministry of health and social development of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Kazakh Scientific Oncology and Radiology Research Institution  and arranged with support of Merk company(Germany)  and VIVA PHARM LLC (Almaty).

«Our Ministry, being a state authority, is aiming to act in all different directions, such as, paying attention to the issues of prevention and early diagnosis, innovation of medical technologies, supply of medications with proven effectiveness to fight oncological diseases. But all those measures may be still ineffective if the responsibility of the patient himself for his own health is not increased. That is why the program is targeting joint responsibility. Cancer services in the country have been significantly optimized, with Kazakh Scientific Oncology and Radiology Research Institution of the Ministry of health and social development of the Republic of Kazakhstan being a coordination, scientific and methodical center”, noted Alexey Tsoy, the Vice-minister of health and social development of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Head and Neck Cancer (HNC) Early Diagnosis Week is realized within State Healthcare development program “Densaulyk” for years 2016-2020 which is targeting promotion of the health of population of the country to insure constant socio-economic growth of the country.