Emphasizing the status of cancer registry and surveillance nationwide and across the province, Dr. Maryam Jameh Shourani, Subspecialist in Adult Gastroenterology and Hepatology, underscored the necessity of expanding screening programs, enhancing public health literacy, and supporting the family medicine system.

According to WebDA-Zanjan, speaking at a one-day seminar on cancer self-care held today, October 21 (Mehr 29, 1405), at the Roozbeh International Convention Center, Dr. Jameh Shourani addressed self-care and prevention programs, stating: “Safeguarding community health is a governmental duty. Modifying lifestyle habits, quitting tobacco use, promoting healthy nutrition, maintaining regular physical activity, and vaccination constitute the core pillars of self-care.”

She added: “The implementation of the family medicine program plays a highly effective role in the early detection of diseases. Notably, the pilot execution of this program in Khodabandeh County and the city of Zanjan has yielded remarkable achievements in timely case identification, enabling physicians to diagnose certain cancer cases in their primary, highly treatable stages.”

Highlighting the elevated prevalence of gastric cancer in the northern and western provinces of the country, including Zanjan, this adult gastroenterology and hepatology subspecialist noted: “For the first time nationwide, a comprehensive gastric cancer screening program has been planned in Zanjan in collaboration with philanthropies and responsible organizations, aiming to take an impactful step toward reducing the disease burden in accordance with rigorous scientific principles.”

In conclusion, referring to the shift in cancer registration methodologies from a purely pathology-based approach to a comprehensive hospital- and population-based registry, Dr. Shourani stressed the imperative of expert diligence, continuous data monitoring, and cross-sectoral collaboration to elevate the province’s health indices.