In Rio, the initiative reduces wait time from diagnosis of childhood cancer

A strategy involving health units in Rio de Janeiro, institutes and organizations focused on combating childhood cancer has dramatically decreased the wait time for diagnosis of cancer in children. It is a welcoming card, created four years ago, specifically for children with suspected cancer.

The initiative has enabled imaging tests are made within seven days in the Unified Health System (SUS), in health centers and clinics in town. According to medical Roberta Marques, director of the Institute Desiderata, one of the entities responsible for creating the card before the wait could reach 60 days, at which time, depending on the stage of the disease, the child may even die.

In these four years we have roughly 70% of referrals within 15 days and 54% within seven days. Between 2008 and 2012, 56% of patients referred with a suspicion of the network card for the Cure States were received within seven days, ensuring access to treatment and research faster, said Roberta.

The initiative is part of the municipal public policy for the Cure States to promote the early diagnosis of cancer infantojuvenil, a disease that kills more children and adolescents in Brazil, according to data from the National Cancer Institute (INCA). The chances of cure if the disease is diagnosed early can chagar to 80%.

Roberta explained that the Desiderata and all members of the United Network for Healing are responsible for monitoring the cards through an online computerized system. The system is powered by clinics, hospitals and research jobs.

Health posts are the card number into the system to receive a child with suspected cancer, and we feel watching that child, if it came to polo research, now was diagnosed, now was referred for treatment or no, the doctor explained.

System data released by the Inca, show that between 2008 and 2011, from 475 children referred to the card host States For Healing, 328 were completed and the evaluation of this total, 180 children had confirmed the suspicion of cancer.

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