Ofi Lazio is a partner of the 25th edition of the ‘Race for the Cure’

Annamaria Servadio (Ofi Lazio): Together with women to support prevention and treatment

ROME – Ofi Lazio will be present with an exhibition stand at the 25th edition of the ‘Race for the Cure’, the largest event in Italy and in the world for the fight against breast cancer. The objective of the Order of Physiotherapists of Lazio is to bring concrete support to the ‘Susan G. Komen Italia’ association, which for years has been fighting to keep attention high on the topic of breast cancer and, more generally , on women’s health, to support women who live the experience of this terrible neoplasm, to strengthen research in the sector and to help other associations by creating virtuous networks.

From Thursday 9th to Sunday 12th May, the Order of Physiotherapists of Lazio will be present at the Circus Maximus in Rome with an exhibition stand, in the Partner Area of the Race, to support the activities of Komen Italia and to inform citizens about The importance of physiotherapy in the treatment paths of cancer patients and, in particular, of patients suffering from breast cancer.

With over 56,000 new cases per year in Italy alone, breast cancers represent the most frequent neoplasms in females. The incidence is continuously increasing and it is estimated that by 2025, almost 6 million women will become ill worldwide.

Although these are highly curable tumors, they still rank first among the causes of death from cancer in the global female population.

Prevention can therefore make a difference: with primary prevention the incidence of breast cancer could be reduced by a third and with early diagnosis, i.e. secondary prevention, cure rates can exceed 90%, with less treatment invasive.

From primary and secondary prevention, and throughout the entire care and treatment process, up to palliative and end-of-life care, physiotherapy plays a fundamental role, thanks to specific and individualized interventions that help manage the side effects of treatment and counteract the resulting functional deconditioning.

Particular attention is paid to the management of lymphedema in patients undergoing mastectomy, which is based on four fundamental interventions: skin care to prevent lesions and infections, manual lymphatic drainage to promote the outflow of lymph, compression therapy consisting of the application of multi-layered compressive bandages and then of elastic-compressive braces and, finally, therapeutic exercise which involves specific muscle exercises to improve lymph drainage and joint mobility, as well as to enhance muscle strength, breathing exercises .

The physiotherapist, together with the multidisciplinary team necessary for the management of lymphedema, is the only professional authorized to carry out these interventions, guaranteeing their effectiveness and safety.
In Lazio there are numerous physiotherapists working in the National Health Service, in the accredited private sector or as freelancers, specializing in the treatment of patients with oncological lymphedema.

“The data relating to the incidence – states the president of the Order of Physiotherapists of Lazio, Annamaria Servadio – urge us to maintain high attention on the prevention of breast cancer. For this reason Ofi Lazio at its first official participation in ‘Race for the Cure’, promotes and raises awareness among citizens and professionals on the topic.

The adoption of correct lifestyles and early diagnosis are two very important issues that translate into substantial improvements in life expectancy.”

“In Lazio – he concludes – we are able to take care of women with breast cancer in an integrated and effective way even if there are some discrepancies between the territories. It is precisely on these differences that we must work to try to make treatments increasingly fair and accessible”.

At the following link is the list of integrated breast centers in the Lazio region, structures that offer treatment of patients with a multidisciplinary approach for the entire treatment process: https://www.ofilazio.it/i-fisioterapisti-in-prima-linea-nella-tta-ai-tumori-del-seno -and-in-the-protection-of-women’s-health/