Introducing russian cancer society
fighting cancer in russia

About the rcs

The Russian Cancer Society (RCS) is the nationwide voluntary health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem in Russia by preventing cancer, saving lives, and diminishing suffering from cancer, through research, education, advocacy, and service. Particular emphasis is placed on professional and public education.

To meet its objectives, the RCS creates and carries out programs in collaboration with 58 regional divisions. The Society cooperates with other organizations, societies, and governmental bodies engaged in promoting cancer control and research.

RCS creates a focused endeavor to unite multidisciplinary approach in cancer control and establish a formal two-way communication with cancer treatment facilities and other health care providers. RCS activities aim to influence Russian policy issues which affect the death rates from avoidable or controllable cancer.

What is cancer control?

Cancer control seeks to apply in the community what is known about interrupting process of carcinogenesis at different stages and generally includes:

Primary prevention

ELIMINATION OR REDUCTION OF EXPOSURES TO CHEMICALS
AND OTHER FACTORS CAUSING CANCER.

• Smoking control
• Control of carcinogenic exposures at workplace and environment
• Protection from infection that cause cancer: monitoring and eradication of infection, vaccination
• Protection from ultraviolet radiation
• Protection from ionizing radiation

Adoption of life style favoring protection against cancer

• Modification of diet
• Increasing physical activity
• Control of overweight
• Decreasing alcohol consumption

Assessment of individual risk of developing cancer

• Detection of familiar risk of cancer and germ-line mutations
• Identification of individual risk of cancer-genetic polymorphism Inhibition of carcinogenesis at early stages - chemoprevention
• Screening for and synthesis of compounds that inhibit process of carcinogenesis
• Testing in experimental studies and randomized controlled trials Secondary Prevention
• Screening - detection of precancerous lesions and/early cancer at pre-clinical stage
• Early diagnosis - detection of precancerous lesions or/and cancer in patients who have symptoms of disease Tertiary Prevention
• Treatment
• Rehabilitation

Cancer mortality rates in Russia are among highest in the world. Mortality from all cancers in Russian men (212 per 100 000 population) is much higher than in men in the US (162 per 100 000 population), Canada (161 per 100 000 population), in Great Britain (170 per 100 000 population), or other western countries.

The goal of RCS is to reduce cancer mortality in Russia through prevention, screening, early detection and effective treatment. Community Cancer Control Program initiated by RCS will encompass activities at the local, regional, or nationwide level, which will have a positive impact on the entire spectrum of CANCER CONTROL measures: primary prevention, early detection, effective treatment, survival, and quality of life related to cancer.

PRIMARY PREVENTION

TOBACCO AND CANCER

RCS will guide and support actions for reduction of tobacco use.

• Develop countrywide and local nonsmoking plans and coalitions.
• Collaborate with Ministry of Public Health and other state agencies to set up and enforce appropriate regulatory measures.
• Collaborate at country and local levels to integrate smoking control techniques into health delivery and health promotion programs.
• Collaborate with medical associations, specialty societies and NGOs in educating physicians, medical students and nurses about health consequences of smoking, prevention and cessation methods.
• Promote comprehensive health education, emphasizing avoidance of smoking and other high-risk behavior.
• Promote the adoption of smoking prevention and cessation techniques as a standard practice by all physicians and health care providers.
• Create and promote the facilities to help in cessation of smoking, including nicotine replacement therapy.
• Publicize the risks of smoking through Media. Encourage the coverage of smoking and health issues in mass media.

DIET AND CANCER

RCS will guide and support actions for promotion of healthy diet.

• Develop diet and cancer programs that make use of mass media and other communication facilities.
• Promote the dissemination of accurate and appealing information about proper food selection to avoid overweight and protect against cancer.
• Collaborate with primary health providers to ensure that all routine health contacts include some elements of nutritional education and counseling.
• Cooperate with Ministry of Health, Agriculture, other state agencies and NGO to ensure that attention is given to reducing dietary risk factors for cancer.

OCCUPATION AND CANCER

RCS will guide and support development and implementation of effective occupational cancer prevention program.

• Develop an effective occupational cancer prevention program.
• Cooperate with state agencies, industries, trade unions and others to improve surveillance and registration of occupational exposures to carcinogens.
• Promote dissemination of information and enforcement activities in the broad field of occupational safety and cancer.

INFECTION AND CANCER

RCS will guide and support development and implementation of effective program on prevention of cancer causally associated with infectious agents.

• Cooperate with state agencies and NGOs in dissemination of information about prevention of infections transmitted through sexual contact or needle-sharing.
• Support development and implementation of effective Hepatitis B vaccination program.
• Develop an effective program for monitoring and eradication of Helicobacter pylori infection.

SECONDARY PREVENTION

SCREENING

• RCS will develop the legislation for cancer screening, including policies for reimbursement from National Health Insurance and private insurance companies for proven cancer screening strategies.
• Create the model high quality cancer screening services with build in appropriate quality control measures.
• Cooperate with health agencies to ensure that appropriate quality control measures are used in screening programs.
• Cooperate with primary health care providers in dissemination of information about the importance of screening and early diagnosis of cancer.

TERTIARY PREVENTION

TREATMENT

The objective of cancer control in Russia in the treatment area is the increase in 5-year survival rates based on application of state-of-the art treatment for cancer.
This will be achieved through:

• increasing public awareness of the importance of early detection and the understanding that there are effective treatments for many cancers.
• improving patients access to state-of-the art cancer diagnosis and multidisciplinary treatment and appropriate referrals to cancer centers with specialized facilities.
• providing adequate health care insurance, including coverage for preventive services, comprehensive diagnostic works, surgical treatment, chemotherapy and rehabilitation

YOU can make a real difference in the lives of those facing cancer by supporting the Russian Cancer Society.

YOUR contribution helps fund our programs of research, education, advocacy, and service, which are leading us towards our ultimate goal - the elimination of cancer. Every donation counts.
YOUR donations are appreciated.

Please, mail your check payable to the Russian Cancer Society to the address:
RUSSIAN CANCER SOCIETY
Kashirskoye sh. 24
115478, Moscow
RUSSIA

Please, inform us to whom the acknowledgment of receipt should be sent.

We thank you for your support.

Communication with the RCS Secretariat

Address: 
Kashirskoye shosse 24,115478 Moscow, Russia

Main numbers: 
Tel. +7 (495) 324 1640
Tel. +7 (495) 324 1470
Fax +7 (495) 324 1205
E-mail: rcs@crc.umos.ru