Almost a year after the creation of the 20 million ad hoc fund, genomic tests for breast cancer - which allow us to avoid unnecessary chemotherapy - are not yet available for free for all women. Even if the Regions have finally implemented the Government decree, through specific measures, it is now time to make the availability of the test in every hospital operational. Between tenders to start and further bureaucratic and administrative delays, there is a real risk of having to wait another 6-9 months.
Currently, the tests are available in some hospitals in only 11 Italian regions. The Italian Association of Medical Oncology (AIOM) shines the spotlight on delays and shortcomings with respect to crucial tests for many patients at the 23rd national congress.
"We are wasting precious time, every day that passes dozens of women risk not accessing the tests that can avoid unnecessary chemotherapy. In the last twelve months, heavy delays have accumulated first at the level of the central government, then of individual Regions and Autonomous Provinces - she says. Saverio Cinieri, President-elect AIOM - It is an intolerable situation that for the umpteenth time has created a patchwork of assistance in our country. For some 'lucky' patients we have been able to prescribe free tests for months that allow them to avoid administration. of useless or counterproductive drugs. Others, on the other hand, still cannot and in order to have them have to put their hands on their portfolios. We ask the Regions and local ASLs to speed up the processes to find tests,obviously in full compliance with the rules that regulate this kind of purchases by health facilities. "Currently only in 11 Regions some hospitals have begun to order tests, even pending regional tenders. These are Campania, Emilia Romagna, Lombardy, Piedmont , Autonomous Province of Bolzano, Sicily, Valle d'Aosta, Veneto, Sardinia, Lazio and Abruzzo.
Genomic tests make it possible to identify specific cases in which chemotherapy is really essential, in addition to hormone therapy, after a first surgery. "It is estimated that they can be prescribed to one out of five patients - continues Giordano Beretta, AIOM National President -. There are therefore over 10 thousand women who in our country alone could reap numerous benefits every year from relatively inexpensive and easy to perform tests. chemotherapy drugs are much feared especially for some side effects that still determine the costs induced by the administration of these therapies and should not be underestimated. The use of genomic tests must be considered an investment that generates savings for the public purse and that above all avoids suffering to women".
"Breast cancer is the most diagnosed cancer among women in our country - says Cinieri -. The number of new cases per year is 55 thousand and five-year survival is 88%, one of the best recorded for a neoplasia in Italy. Early diagnosis, timely therapeutic interventions and multidisciplinary management of the disease have led to these excellent results. The widespread diffusion of the neoplasm, and its constant growth, make it one of the main challenges of our national health system. the use of genomic tests is indispensable and is part of the personalization of treatments that is at the basis of the evolution of oncology in recent years ". They are, in fact, exams whose use is recommended in all national and international guidelines.And in many Western countries they have already been available to patients and clinicians for several years. "We therefore ask - he concludes - that this also happens in Italy and that delays that are no longer acceptable be put an end to".