Cancer Education (IDCA)
The International Digestive Cancer Alliance (IDCA) is an official Division of WGO and its global mission is to promote awareness, screening, early detection, primary prevention and treatment of digestive cancers to governments, the general public and to medical practitioners through educational activities, including the WGO’s Training Centres and TTT Programs.
Digestive cancers, most of which can be prevented or cured, account for 3 million new cases and cause 2 million deaths per year. The IDCA, working in close collaboration with the national societies, has set a goal to reduce by 2009 the annual incidence of colon cancer by 75% and the annual mortality rate by 50%.
The IDCA is a forum for advocacy, symposia, epidemiology, bio-statistics, screening methodology, compliance, outcome assessment and cost/benefit analysis etc linking gastroenterologists, oncologists, surgeons and other healthcare workers.
Formally inaugurated in March 2002, the IDCA received formal support and endorsement from leading international figureheads including His Holiness the Late Pope John Paul II and United States Senator Hillary Clinton. This first meeting, held in the Augustinianum, situated next to St. Peter’s in Rome, focused on the prevention of colorectal cancer. Many of these cancers can be prevented by screening and modification of lifestyle. Unfortunately, most people are not aware of these cancers and the potential for preventing them. Greater awareness of these cancers could alert people with symptoms to seek medical advice, and could promote earlier detection. Screening for these cancers increases the likelihood of detecting potential problems before cancer develops, thereby increasing treatment success rates.
The IDCA's Patron, Pope John Paul II died on April 2, 2005. Notwithstanding his failing health he always received our delegations. On behalf of the IDCA we express our gratitude to Pope John Paul II for lending his enthusiastic support to our organization.
Excerpt from the Speech made by His Holiness Pope John Paul II (March 2002)
“Once cannot fail to be pleased in noting the increasing availability of technological and pharmacological resources that, in most cases, permit early detection of cancer symptoms, conducive to prompter and more effective treatment. I urge you not to stop at the results you have already achieved but to continue, with confidence and determination, in research and treatments, availing yourselves of the latest scientific resources. May young doctors follow your example and may they, with your help, learn to follow the same path that will be of benefit to everyone’s health.
Ladies and gentlemen, thanks to the co-operation of so many collaborators and volunteers, you are making a great effort to inform the pubic that they can enjoy better health if they follow regular lifestyle and undergo periodical check-ups. I congratulate you for this public service and I hope that your profession, while following its governing ethical code, will always draw inspiration from those timeless ethical values that form its firm foundation.”
In this section:
Professor Meinhard Classen (Past President WGO) being received by His Holiness the Late Pope John Paul II.
United States Senator