The Ministry of Health, through its Cancer Control Agency, presented the latest cancer morbidity and mortality reports in the province of Santa Fe. This is a detailed analysis of epidemiological surveillance for cancer over the past decade, including mortality data over the period 2011–2019. and incidence in the five-year period 2013–2017. The data were presented Wednesday in Rosario, at the annual meeting of LalSec Region IV, which brings together volunteers from all over the provinces of Santa Fe and Entre Ríos.
In the data processed by the Cancer Control Agency report, the mortality and incidence of tumors that affect the population most are: lung, breast, colon and cervical cancer; It also adds data on mortality and incidence of melanoma.
Cancer is a global health problem. Worldwide, it is the second leading cause of death and it is estimated that 950,000 people in the world die of cancer each year.
In Santa Fe, the situation does not escape world statistics: after cardiovascular diseases, cancer is the second most common cause of death. Cancer accounts for 20% of deaths in Santa Fe County.
However, more than a third of all cancers are preventable by reducing exposure to risk factors such as tobacco, obesity, physical inactivity, infection, alcohol, environmental pollution, or solar radiation. In addition, there are several tests that help in the early detection of specific tumors, making a difference in the likelihood of reducing the risk of death from the disease.
Epidemiological surveillance of cancer is based on continuous and systematic collection of data on the incidence of this disease and its determinants. In addition to determining, for example, that during the five-year period between 2013 and 2017, 52,701 tumors were diagnosed in Santa Fe County, approximately 10,500 cases of cancer per year, the report tells us the distribution of factors. It directly and indirectly affects the health of the population and is a tool for managers responsible for decision making.
In this sense, the provincial director of the Cancer Control Agency, Dr. Graciela López de Degani, highlighted: “We have departmental data that allow us to do a micro-regional analysis and know which ones we need in each location. Health strategy should be adopted. For example, we know that in the North we should prioritize cervical cancer prevention, which in the South would be another strategy, with each department being analyzed. This information prepares us to work hard on the public policies that we implement to improve the quality of life of all of these people who may have one of these diseases at some point in their lives.
The official cited global data from a previous report and highlighted that “the province of Santa Fe is located on the national average in terms of its mortality and incidence statistics, with some variations, such as a slight increase with respect to breast cancer.” above. colon. and below in the context of cervical cancer. For this reason, priority is given to population screening and early detection strategies expressed by each of the cancer control agency’s prevention programs.
