OnVita

useful information

The European Code Against Cancer is an initiative of the European Commission to inform people about actions they can take for themselves or their families to reduce their risk of cancer. The current fourth edition consists of twelve recommendations that most people can follow without any special skills or advice.

The more recommendations people follow, the lower their risk of cancer will be. It has been estimated that almost half of all deaths due to cancer in Europe could be avoided if everyone followed the recommendations.

1. Don't smoke. Do not use other tobacco products.
2. Keep your home free of tobacco smoke. Support a  smoke-free workplace policy.
3. Maintain a healthy body weight.
4. Be physically active every day. Limit the time you spend sitting.
5. Use a Healthy Diet:

• eat plenty of whole grains, legumes, vegetables and  fruits
• limit your intake of high-calorie foods (foods with a lot of sugar or fat) in your diet and do not consume sweetened drinks
• avoid eating meat products, limit the consumption of red meat and foods high in salt.

6. Do not consume or limit the consumption of alcoholic beverages.
7. Limit the time spent in the sun, protect children from the harmful effects of the sun. Use sunscreen. Do not use solarium services.
8. Follow workplace health and safety guidelines to protect yourself from exposure to carcinogens.
9. Find out if you are naturally exposed to high levels of radon radiation in your home. Take the necessary steps to reduce high radon levels.
10. For women:

• breastfeeding reduces the risk of cancer in the mother. If possible, breastfeed your baby.
• Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) increases the risk of certain types of cancer. Limit the use of HRT.

11. Make sure your children are vaccinated against:

• Hepatitis B (for newborns)
• human papillomavirus (HPV).

12. Participate in early cancer detection programs:

• bowel cancer screening (for men and women)
• breast cancer screening (for women)
• screening for cervical cancer.

Patients with a suspected oncological disease are provided with state-paid diagnostic services as soon as possible in order to start treatment of the patient in a timely manner, if necessary, and achieve better treatment results.

The receipt of these services outside the general waiting queue for services is called the "green corridor". The conditions for the formation of a queue in the case of a "green corridor" are provided for by the Rules of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Latvia No. 555 "Organization and procedure for payment for medical services".

The green corridor in Latvia has been introduced  since 2016. It makes it possible to make a diagnosis faster and start treatment, regardless of queues and quotas for a particular service.

The green corridor algorithm is applied to  primary patients if there is a suspicion of  cancer.

Patients are conducted by a sequential examination to establish a diagnosis:

• the patient addresses his family doctor;
• The family doctor evaluates the patient's complaints and health;
• If the family doctor is suspected of oncological disease, the doctor issues a referral for certain examinations paid by the state (for example, mammography, ultrasound). These examinations are carried out within 10 working days from the date of registration and outside the total amount of financing (quota) established for a medical institution.
• In order for patients with suspicion of oncological disease to undergo an examination outside the general queue: when issuing the direction, the family doctor indicates a certain code and informs the patient on the procedure for recording on the examination; When recording, the patient reports the code specified in the direction and goes for the examination, taking a direction with him.
• The family doctor evaluates the results of the examinations.
• In case of confirmation of the oncological diagnosis or suspicion of the doctor for oncological disease, a referral to the practice of the family doctor and the patient’s record by phone for consulting a specialist in one of specialized hospitals is issued. These consultations are also provided within 10 business days and outside the general financing of the institution.

When a cancer patient is diagnosed and he begins treatment, it is important that he be in the best physical condition so that the therapy achieves the desired result.
Unfortunately, a significant number of cancer patients face such a problem as malnutrition.

Malnutrition occurs when a patient is not getting enough nutrients.
Malnutrition is manifested by changes in the   structure of the body, including   - the mass of muscles and   organs decreases, and   immunity also deteriorates, wounds heal more slowly, there are no strengths and    d.

Most often, malnutrition develops in   patients with   tumors of the digestive organs (pancreas, esophagus, stomach, and   others), and   also in   patients with   lesions of the head and # nbsp; neck (oral cavity, pharynx, etc.) tumors.

Weight loss and  reducing the amount of food eaten (if less than ¾ of what was previously eaten during the  during the day compared to  daily intake) indicates  that the food is not  accepted;  in this situation you have to think about how to increase the number of calories and other nutrients. It is best to entrust a specialist with assessing the sufficiency of the diet. In people with tumors, the metabolism is changed, so the body needs more protein than a healthy person. Even if the  same amount of food is eaten as before, you should consider  increasing the amount of protein in the diet before you get sick.

Proper nutrition helps to feel better, maintain strength and energy, avoid weight loss and  maintain nutrient reserves in the body, better tolerate treatment (there will be fewer side effects), reduce the risk of infections and faster recover.
Proper nutrition means eating a wide variety of foods in order to assimilate the nutrients the body needs to fight  tumor.