Turkish Ministry of Health, 2ndTurkish Medical General Assembly Clinical Oncology Study Group Report.
OBJECTIVE
There is an increase in the incidence of cancer, and consequently in mortality rates, both in the world and in Turkey. The increase in the incidence and mortality rate of cancer are more prominent in our country as well as in other developing countries. The aim of this workshop was to determine the current status on prevention, screening, early diagnosis and treatment of cancer in our country, to identify related shortcomings, specify solutions and to share these with health system operators, and to aid in implementation of these systems. Developments on palliative care were also evaluated.


METHODS
The current situation in the practice of clinical oncology, related drawbacks, problems encountered during multidisciplinary approach and their solutions were discussed under several sub-headings during a 3-day meeting organized by the Turkish Ministry of Health (Türkiye Cumhuriyeti Sağlık Bakanlığı-TCSB) with participation of 16 scientists from Turkey and 6 from abroad, and the conclusions were reported.


RESULTS
It is expected that the newly established Turkish Health Institutes Association (Türkiye Sağlık Enstitüleri Başkanlığı-TÜSEB) and the National Cancer Institute (Ulusal Kanser Enstitüsü) will provide a new framework in the field of oncology. The current positive findings include the increase in the number of scientists who carry out successful trials in oncology both in Turkey and abroad, the implementation of the national cancer registry program by the Cancer Control Department and the breast cancer registry program by the Turkish Federation of Breast Diseases Societies (Türkiye Meme Hastalıkları Dernekleri Federasyonu-TMHDF), and introduction of Cancer Early Diagnosis, Screening, and Training Centers (Kanser Erken Tanı, Tarama ve Eğitim Merkezi-KETEM) for the application of community-based cancer screening programs. In addition to these, obvious shortcomings related to education, implementation, management and research issues were also determined, and policy and project proposals to address these issues were presented. Collaboration with relevant organizations in the implementation of these studies was supported.


CONCLUSIONS
Both the incidence and mortality rates of cancer are increasing in Turkey. The widespread deficiencies in population-based screening and in effective treatment lead to an increase in delay in diagnosis and mortality. Despite improvements in data recording, screening and treatment over the last 10 years, extensive, organized, population-based screening programs and fully equipped early diagnosis and treatment centers are required. Enhancement of basic cancer epidemiologic, translational, genetic and molecular research studies is essential in our country. Improvements on pain treatment and palliative care of patients with chronic and terminal cancer are also required.
Department of General Surgery, İstanbul University İstanbul Faculty of Medicine, İstanbul, Turkey.
Vahit
V
Özmen
Department of Radiation Oncology, İstanbul University İstanbul Faculty of Medicine, İstanbul, Turkey.
Nergiz
N
Dağoğlu
Cancer Surgeon General Office, İstanbul, Turkey.
İsmet
İ
Dede
Department of General Surgery, Bezmialem University Faculty of Medicine, İstanbul, Turkey.
Adem
A
Akçakaya
Department of General Surgery, Gazi University Faculty of Medicine, İstanbul, Turkey.
Mustafa
M
Kerem
Clinic of General Surgery, Ankara Oncology Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
Fatih
F
Göksel
Department of Urology, Köln University Faculty of Medicine, Köln, Germany.
Enver
E
Özgür
Turkey Public Hospitals Institution, Ankara, Turkey.
Emel
E
Başkan
Clinic of Medical Oncology, İstanbul Bayındır Hospital, İstanbul, Turkey.
Mustafa
M
Yaylacı
Florida Plastic Surgery Institute, Florida, USA.
Adil
A
Ceydeli
Clinic of Medical Oncology, Sakarya Training and Research Hospital, Sakarya, Turkey.
Meltem
M
Baykara
Department of Radiation Oncology, Bezmialem University Faculty of Medicine, İstanbul, Turkey.
Huriye Şenay
HŞ
Kızıltan
Clinic of Medical Oncology, Memorial Hospital, İstanbul, Turkey.
Şeref
Ş
Kömürcü
Department of Medical Oncology, Bezmialem University Faculty of Medicine, İstanbul, Turkey.
Mahmut
M
Gümüş
Department of Medical Oncology, Bezmialem University Faculty of Medicine, İstanbul, Turkey.
H Mehmet
HM
Türk
Clinic of Thoracic Surgery, Kartal Dr. Lütfü Kırdar Training and Research Hospital, İstanbul, Turkey.
Recep
R
Demirhan
Specialty Scanners Ltd, UK.
Ali
A
Akgün
Department of General Surgery, National Health System-Konsultan, Pittsburgh, USA.
Naim
N
Kadoglou
Turkey Public Hospitals Institution, Ankara, Turkey.
Emre
E
Yatman
Bayer Healthcare, USA.
Cem Cüneyt
CC
Elbi
Department of General Surgery, Florida International University, Florida, USA.
Seza
S
Güleç
Department of General Surgery, Pittsburgh University Faculty of Medicine, Pittsburgh, USA.
Atilla
A
Soran
National Cancer Institute President.
Ahmet
A
Özet
Turkey Health Institute President.
Fahrettin
F
Keleştimur
National Cancer Institute; Turkey; Workshop; cancer; incidence; prevention; screening