– Press Release –
Post – Event Press Release Public Awareness Event
«Healthy Lungs»
Friday, May 24, 2024/ University of Thessaly
Key factors in fostering lung health: education in schools, outdoor exercise, reaching out to people who smoke, information and lung cancer screening
The “Healthy Lungs” informative event organized by FairLife Lung Cancer Care was successfully held on Friday, May 24, 2024,19:00 – 20:30 at the “Katsigra” auditorium of the University of Thessaly in Larissa. The event featured 14 speakers and focused on promoting lung health, along with discussing prevention and advancements in lung cancer treatment.
The conference, which marked the 2nd informative event of the ” Healthy Lungs ” initiative, was attended by over 800 people both in person and online. This initiative is being expanded to selected areas of Greece to reduce mortality and increase early detection rates of lung cancer through awareness and improved access to screening.
The event was coordinated by Mr. Konstantinos Gourgoulianis, Professor of Respiratory Medicine, Director of Pulmonary Clinic of University of Thessaly, Dean of Faculty of Medicine.
Speakers from the scientific, academic, and educational communities, as well as representatives from the Church, municipal authorities, and patients emphasized smoking as a serious risk factor for lung health and advocated for physical exercise and contact with nature to prevent lung diseases, including lung cancer. They also discussed the importance of screening and early diagnosis, shared the latest therapeutic advancements for early and metastatic lung cancer, and covered surgical treatments for early lung cancer. A highlight of the event was the testimonies of lived experiences and anti-smoking messages from young students.
Through collaboration of the Screening Department of the Pulmonary Clinic at the University of Thessaly and the DIAGNOSTIC LABORATORIES PARAFESTA, YGEIA-IATRIKI APEIKONISI SA, and EUROMEDICA LARISSA with FairLife L.C.C., 45 lung cancer screening examinations using low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) will be offered for free to the public.
Notably, the Screening Department of the Pulmonary Clinic at the University of Thessaly was established in 2021, under the leadership of Mr. Dimitrios Papadopoulos, Director of the NHS, and Mrs. Eleni Karetsi, Director of the NHS at the Pulmonary Clinic of the University of Thessaly.
In the opening section, Mrs. Korina Pateli-Bell, President of FairLife L.C.C., emphasized the importance of ongoing discussions on healthy behaviors and lung protection. She addressed the landscape of lung cancer, the critical role of screening, and the necessity of integrating screening with anti-smoking initiatives in Greece. She also referred to the hope that comes along with innovation. “At FairLife, we believe this is a great time to continue and intensify the dialogue with society and stakeholders on lung health. In the post-Covid era, we should not let this opportunity slip away!”
The event was greeted by Dr. Sotirios Balatsoukas, Head of the Private Office of His Eminence Metropolitan Ieronymos of Larissa and Tyrnavos, Mr. Dimitrios Kouretas, Regional Governor of Thessaly, Mr. Ioannis Stefanidis, Vice Rector of Research and Innovation, and Mrs. Ioanna Karavana, President of the Larissa Cancer Patients Association and Board Member of ELLOK.
Representatives from the Hellenic Church, local authorities, and the scientific and academic communities emphasized the importance of collaboration against lung cancer, the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in Greece. They expressed their commitment to supporting FairLife L.C.C. and similar initiatives and highlighted the need to develop new strategies to reach out to people who smoke. They also spoke about the hope, created by education on prevention and the latest scientific advancements.
SECTION A
Section A featured speeches by Mrs. Zoe Gerostathi, MSc in Production of Educational Materials for Early School Age, Author, and Mr. N. Magitsis, Professor of Physical Education, International Mountaineer and FairLife L.C.C. Ambassador.
Mrs. Gerostathi highlighted the crucial role of health promotion in schools and the positive effects of anti-smoking activities within the school community. She emphasized the use of play, music, theatre, and tales to foster healthy attitudes and develop conscious citizens. This was illustrated through a special song performed by an elementary school student.
Mr. Magitsis discussed the benefits of exercising in nature for physical and mental health, encouraging the public to reconnect with the natural environment and take up hiking as a means to prevent lung diseases and lung cancer.
SECTION B
In Section B, Mrs. Chrysa Hatzoglou, Professor of Medical Physiology at the University of Thessaly, highlighted the need for a comprehensive approach to smoking. “Smoking is an insidious scourge of our time and requires integrated treatment strategies. Information, prevention, education, and support for smoking cessation are key tools in this effort,” she stated.
Mrs. Eleni Karetsi, Pulmonologist and Director of the NHS at the Pulmonary Clinic of University of Thessaly, discussed the importance of early lung cancer diagnosis through screening, which significantly increases the chances of effective treatment and potential cure. “As a result, people with lung cancer live longer and enjoy a better quality of life.”
Mr. Nikolaos Angeletos, a lung cancer survivor, shared his lived experience, concluding, “It is important to fight the battle against the enemy that takes lives by spreading an optimistic message. Always focus on the positive side, looking forward to favorable outcomes. Optimism is a challenge after all!”
Mr. Stylianos Boutlas, Pulmonologist and Attending Physician in the General University Hospital of Larissa, focused on findings in post-Covid patients after radiological examinations. “We are different but also victorious after the pandemic. Interacting with oncology patients is particularly rewarding, because we learn to be better when we witness their attitude to life,” he noted.
Mr. Alexandros Kokkalis, MSc, Medical Oncologist at the General University Hospital of Larissa, discussed lung cancer as the leading cause of cancer-related deaths and the necessity of molecular testing for all patients. “In recent years we have seen an increase of treatment options, which lead to significantly increasing survival rates. The goal is to turn even metastatic cancer into a chronic disease,” he explained.
Mr. Ioannis Diamantis, MSc, Thoracic Surgeon at the General University Hospital of Larissa, summarized, “Through prevention and early diagnosis, surgical treatment of lung cancer in its early stages is a crucial part of comprehensive cancer care, offering long survival and improved quality of life to the majority of patients.”
The event was held under the auspices of: the Holy Metropolis of Larissa & Tyrnavos, the Region of Thessaly, the Municipality of Larissa, the University of Thessaly, the Hellenic Thoracic Society (HTS), the Hellenic Society of Medical Oncology(HeSMO), the Hellenic Society of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgeons (HCTSS), the Hellenic Radiological Society, the Hellenic Cancer Federation (ELLOK).
Supported by: Major Sponsors: MSD & Roche Hellas, Sponsor: AstraZeneca, Supporters: BMS, GSK, ISTODIEREVNITIKI S.A., KARYO, “Agios Loukas” Hospital
FairLife Lung Cancer Care (FairLife L.C.C.) is the first and only non-profit organization, exclusively dedicated to lung cancer (LC) in Greece, the leading cause of cancer-related death in Greece and worldwide.
FairLife L.C.C.’s mission is to holistically support people impacted by lung cancer, aiming to improve their quality of life throughout their journey from diagnosis to treatment.
To support our mission:
– we work to eliminate the lung cancer stigma, experienced by people, impacted by the disease.
– we promote lung cancer prevention, early diagnosis and screening to decrease mortality rates.
– we raise awareness of the value of comprehensive molecular screening.
– we provide psychosocial support to patients, caregivers and family members.
– we encourage and educate patients, institutions and the general public about the value of clinical trials and access to new innovative therapies.
– we activate teenagers, citizens and the young generation towards a stronger eco-consciousness, a better quality of life and a healthy environment with less pollution and less lung cancer.
FairLife – Lung Cancer Care was founded in memory of Simon Bell, 57, who lost the battle with lung cancer in August 2020.
