The Champalimaud Foundation – dedicated to biomedical research – is launching a groundbreaking programme that will warn people of their risks of contracting cancer before they get it.
Presenting the new service at a press conference in Lisbon, Champalimaud president Leonor Beleza (pictured) said there is nothing like it anywhere else. “This is not an early diagnosis programme, this is a global evaluation” which “considers the person as a whole”, to try and perceive his or her cancer risk and establish a protocol with which to move forwards”.
With this new programme, healthy people who want to know if they are likely to contract the disease during their lifetimes can find out in time to act.
“People will have access to a doctor who will take a global reading of the situation and help them understand, in the face of current scientific thinking, if they face a high level of risk, a medium level – and what kind of care they should adopt in their lives,” said Beleza. “If necessary, genetic studies would be made.”
As to cost, the foundation’s figurehead said “it would never be more expensive, nor as violent and painful, as treating a cancer”.
The new programme will be available early next year.
