On Sunday 8 May, on the occasion of Mother's Day, the AIRC Foundation Research Azalea returns to color many squares throughout Italy to support researchers committed to finding ever more early diagnoses and more effective therapies for cancers that affect women.
In 38 years of life, the Research Azalea has become the symbol of this anniversary, a special flower to give to mothers and all women, a precious ally for women's health that has allowed over time to raise over 280 million euros. , resources that have enabled the best cancer scientists to work uninterrupted in an attempt to diagnose all forms of cancer earlier and to treat all patients more effectively.
Twenty thousand AIRC volunteers therefore return to the squares on Sunday 8 May to distribute the Research Azalea for a donation of 15 euros.
Together, the special Guide will be delivered with information on prevention, cancer treatment and three healthy recipes signed by the AIRC ambassador Antonella Clerici also protagonist of the cover, by the foodblogger Monica Papagna and by the chef Stefano Sforza.
For those who want to surprise their mother, even from a distance, it is possible to order the Azalea on Amazon.it.
The face of the Azalea della Ricerca this year is Francesca, a young mother and nephrologist who has been diagnosed with thyroid cancer, portrayed together with little Cecilia in a moment of affectionate complicity.
"I offered to be patient for a colleague of mine to try out the new ultrasound system.
That's how I found out I have a thyroid lump.
The iodine radiotherapy weighed heavily on me because I had to stay in isolation for several days, I missed my baby and in that silent room I thought too much. "Today Francesca is fine and with her testimony she wants to emphasize once more the importance of prevention.
WOMEN AND CANCER: ONE IN THREE WILL RECEIVE A DIAGNOSIS DURING THE COURSE OF LIFE
Last year in our country there were 182,000 new cases of cancer among women and it is estimated that about one in three will receive a cancer diagnosis in their lifetime.
The most frequent cancers in the female gender are: breast (55,000), colorectal (20,200), lung (13,300), thyroid (9,800), uterus (8,300), pancreas (7,400), melanoma (6,700), non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (6,100), stomach (6,100), ovary (5,100).
Today in Italy, survival 5 years from diagnosis has reached 65% and there are almost 2 million women who have overcome cancer thanks to the progress of research and the high level of cancer care.
OVARY CANCER: NEW THERAPEUTIC PERSPECTIVES
Ovarian cancer accounts for approximately 3% of all malignant tumors in the female population and is 10th in frequency.
In about 80% of cases the disease is discovered when it is already in an advanced stage, because ovarian cancer does not give specific symptoms and the diagnosis is therefore often difficult and late.
The results of a recent study supported by the AIRC Foundation, published in the journal Cancer Research, show that some ovarian cancers have high levels of two proteins that regulate the activity of mitochondria, the powerhouse of cells.
This peculiarity seems to make them sensitive to a new class of drugs.
The data, obtained by the research group coordinated by Raffaella Giavazzi at the Mario Negri IRCCS Pharmacological Research Institute,
SMOKING, OBESITY AND SEDENTARITY: AVOIDABLE RISK FACTORS
Adopting healthy behaviors could prevent around 30-40% of new cancer cases.
The most important risk factor is smoking, to which at least 17 different types of neoplasms are attributable in addition to lung cancer which, in 85-90% of cases, is caused by this harmful habit.
Obesity is also more likely to develop cancer: an analysis by the American Cancer Society shows that in 2012, extra pounds were responsible for about 3.9% of all cancers in the world, with peaks of 7 and 8 % in Western countries.
The diet, in addition to helping against excess weight, plays a fundamental role in the prevention of cancer.
Three out of ten neoplasms are in fact caused by a poorly varied and unbalanced diet.
Finally, a sedentary lifestyle should be avoided:
regular physical activity can decrease the risk of developing cancer by about 7% compared to those who do not move.
Exercise also reduces the risk of relapses by up to 30% and improves the quality of life of patients, again compared to those who do not exercise.
American Cancer Society guidelines suggest doing about 300 minutes of moderate activity per week or 150 minutes of strenuous activity.