Frecciarosa, the cancer prevention train, restarts

ROME (ITALPRESS) – “Frecciarosa- prevention travels by train,” the campaign promoted by Fondazione IncontraDonna and the FS Group now in its 14th edition, is back on track. The project enjoys the patronage of the Ministry of Health, with the participation of AIOM (Italian Association of Medical Oncology), Entities-Institutions, including Farmindustria, and the sponsorship of major Italian Scientific Societies. The campaign is presented today in Rome in the presence of Trenitalia President Stefano Cuzzilla and IncontraDonna Foundation President Adriana Bonifacino, among others. Every year in our country there are more than 395 thousand new cancer diagnoses (208 thousand in men and 187 thousand among women). Breast cancer appears to be the most prevalent with 55,900 cases in 2023 (of which 500 are male). Forty percent of all cancer diseases could be prevented by eliminating or modifying risk factors. Therefore, to promote prevention and correct information, for the entire month of October (Monday through Friday), travelers on board Frecce, Regional and Intercity trains will be able to take advantage of a free information and counseling service on cancer prevention thanks to doctors made available by the Italian Association of Medical Oncology.In addition, teleconsultations aimed at receiving clarifications, suggestions and indications from the doctor will be bookable again this year on the Frecciarosa.it platform, which must, however, be later supplemented at NHS (National Health System) facilities. The aim is to promote primary prevention, healthy lifestyles and encourage adherence to the three cancer screenings as active public health models in Italy: mammography screening, pap smear /HPV DNA test, and fecal occult blood test. Also on board the trains, doctors and volunteers will also distribute the “Health Vademecum” drafted in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, the abc of prevention, with tips for a correct lifestyle useful to the entire population, traveling and not, and downloadable in digital version in both Italian and English. “Once again this year we renew our commitment alongside the IncontraDonna Foundation and the institutions for the 14th edition of Frecciarosa, an initiative in the health field that has become part of the FS Group’s DNA,” said Stefano Cuzzilla, president of Trenitalia (FS Group). Offering our female travelers a health-protecting service throughout the month of October is of fundamental importance to us because it helps us to spread and foster a culture of correct information, wellness and prevention, particularly in the fight against breast cancer. The Frecciarosa 2024 edition, moreover, is enriched with a new important stop ‘a will be held. “On October 24, thanks to the collaboration with the ASL ROMA 1 and the spaces offered by the FS Group Logistics Pole, a mobile unit will be present at the San Lorenzo railway station in Rome, where various services will be available free of charge,” he added.Adriana Bonifacino, president of Fondazione IncontraDonna, explains that “eight out of 10 women almost definitively succeed in defeating breast cancer, and this highlights the excellent level of care that we manage to guarantee to patients -Nevertheless, prevention needs to be more encouraged throughout our country. October is the month dedicated to breast cancer prevention, and on this occasion we must remember that mammography screening adherence rates are still low, especially in some regions. Nationally, we had between 2021 and 2022 a drop of 3.5 percent. These are data that can be improved, and as IncontraDonna Foundation we are proud to renew our appointment to promote the culture of prevention by presenting the fourteenth edition of the national Frecciarosa campaign. Once again this year,” he continues, “we will offer free medical consultations “on board” to both the female and male population. Our volunteers will bring health messages aimed at encouraging families, women, men, children and the elderly to take care of themselves, while at the same time helping to strengthen the value of and trust in our National Health System. “Maria Rosaria Campitiello, Head of the Department of Prevention, Research and Health Emergencies of the Ministry of Health, explains that “as the Ministry of Health, we are committed to raising awareness and facilitating access to screening and preventive care, so that every woman can take care of herself and face tomorrow with confidence. To this end, it is necessary to ensure clear, transparent and accessible communication to all, so that everyone can contribute in preserving the common well-being. Only through constant and widespread prevention can we build a stronger health care system and a healthier population.” The 2024 edition will be enriched by a new important “on the ground” stage, presented today by Sabrina De Filippis, CEO of Mercitalia Logistics: on October 24, thanks to the collaboration with ASL ROMA 1 and the spaces offered by the FS Group’s Logistics Pole, a mobile unit will be present at the San Lorenzo train station in Rome. People in the age groups covered by the SSN will be able to get various services such as pap smears, Hpv vaccinations and mammograms free of charge. In addition, thanks to the volunteers of the IncontraDonna Foundation, awareness activities will be carried out, aimed at inviting people for whom the screenings are intended to connect to the portal of the region they belong to in order to get information on prevention campaigns.Finally, the campaign sees the participation of some testimonials including: Lucia Ocone, Alessandra Tripoli and Paola Saluzzi and a delegation from Roma Volley Club representing the Women’s Volleyball League. Also participating in today’s conference are Dr. Giuseppe Quintavalle (Extraordinary Commissioner of Azienda Sanitaria Locale Roma 1), Alessandro Delle Donne (General Management, Istituto Tumori Giovanni Paolo II – IRCCS of Bari) and Valeria Panzironi (Director of Strategies, Development Projects and Shared Services of Sport and Health). The project is also supported thanks to the non-conditional contribution of several companies including GSK and Eli Lilly Italia.

– Photo xb1/Italpress –

(ITALPRESS).