Information Activities

Romanian Cancer Society (RCS) organizes activities to familiarize the public with problems related to cancer. Activities include :

• Television programs – on the second to last or last Thursday of every month, between the hours of 18:00-19:00, through the TV network Europa Nova, broadcast in Cluj on channel B1TV.
   
• Radio programs – on radio stations Radio Renasterea and Mix FM.
   
• Conferences and Debates – Organized at the auditorium of the Institute of Oncology, with topics such as prevention, treatment, side effects of treatment, etc.
   
• The SRC Magazine « Cancer, A Challenge of Life » - distributed free of charge to patients at the Institute of Oncology and others who are interested. The magazine provides information on subjects of interest in relation to cancer, relevant legislation, etc.
   
• Flyers and brochures on topics related to cancer, distributed free of charge.
   

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Prevention Activities

Prevention and detection of breast and genital cancers in mariginalized populations of Cluj, Salaj, and Satu Mare counties

This project developped in partnership with the Ion Chiricuta Institute of Oncology of Cluj Napoca during the period of 1.01.05—31.1.06, addresses a population of 3500 women in rural areas, many of which lack health insurance. Information and education is provided regarding breast self-examination, and women within the target group participate in the screening program to receive pap tests to detect cervical cancer. All services are free of charge. Trainings are also organized for family physicians, who then become promoters of the program.

Prevention of cancer through the fight against smoking

Involves education targeted at ending smoking among children and youth in urban and rural areas, familiarization of groups of parents with the dangers of developing cancer through smoking and then involves them in educational programs, and the creation of non-smoking work places. The program is maintained by psychology and medical students and by grade-school students in their last year.

Partners in this project are the Cluj-Napoca County School Inspector, and the Public Health Department-Service for Health Promotion and the League against Smoking.

Prevention of prostate cancer in disadvantaged populations in the City of Cluj

Addresses men in the City of Cluj-Napoca, between the ages of 50 and 65. The program is offered free of charge. Treatment is provided at the Ion Chiricuta Institute of Oncology in Cluj. The project also promotes extension and improvement of access to health services, and reduction in treatment costs through early detection of prostate cancer.

The Campaign for Breast Cancer Prevention-the Month of October

In this month, throughout the entire country, an action campaign is organized to inform the population about this type of cancer, and a fund raising campaign is conducted. It is also a time of solidarity for people with cancer.

The event is characterized by the lighting of an important building in pink on October 1st, and in Cluj-Napoca this building is the National Theater. On this occasion, a concert or festival is organized that benefits both the participants and the public at large.

The campaign is a pleasure and a success, and focuses public attention upon the difficulties that confront those who are ill, as well as upon the importance of prevention in the fight against breast cancer.

Fundraising

In order to assure the necessary funding for our programs and activities, RCS periodically organizes, among other things, special events.

In the month of April, the society held an exposition of pictures in the Municipal Hospital of Wiener Neustadt and the Erste Bank of Vienna, Austria, in which appeared the valuable works of Cluj artists who have donated to our Society.

In the month of May a benefit recital was organized at the Transilvania Art Museum in Cluj Napoca, with a performance by Edit Fazakas, a solist laureate of numerous national and international competitions. The recital was a remarkable success.

The production of brochures

This is a permanent activity of RCS through which free flyers and brochures are distributed containing information about the prevention and treatment of different types of cancer. At present, the brochures edited are:

• Chemotherapy
  
• Radiation Therapy
  
• Cancer and Nutrition
  
• Things for you to think about
  
• Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
  
• Hodgkin’s Disease
  
• Leukemia
  
• Glossary of cancer terminology
  
• Breast cancer
  

All brochures printed by RCS can be downloaded from the internet (in romanian).

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Support Activities

Support Groups

Our most important activity addressing people with cancer. Held at the Ion Chiricuta Institute of Oncology, the program is provided with the assistance of students from the Psychology and Social work faculties, under the supervision of psychologists specializing in therapy.

Support Groups for the psychological recovery of people with cancer and their friends and family. Emotional reactions when people learn of their diagnosys are among the most varied. It can be a matter of shock, fear, dispair, anger, feelings of guilt, denial, feelings of a loss of control on top of existing uncertainty of the future. These are normal emotional responses that confront a person with an illness. Emotions, behaviors, thoughts and attitudes can facilitate, or make more difficult, adapting to the illness. The support groups that are conducted improve social and emotional relationships, recovery, diminish disease and have a positive affect on quality of life during cancer.

Support groups for parents of children with cancer. A special part of our support group program is dedicated to the counseling of parents whose children are suffering from cancer. These groups have a role in reducing the stress of parents caused by their child’s illness, and accepting the illness, thanks to the psychologist’s help. Parents learn to cope with suffering, to communicate with their children, and to maintain a normal attitude in front of them. The therapist also involves in helping their children through appointments with the children, teaching them to participate actively to the treatment and to become more compliant.

Support groups for medical personnel. Constantly confronting the serious medical issues of the ill creates the need for recuperating energy and rebuilding the state of personal emotions. The support groups offer opportunities for psychological support and counseling during this process of continually adapting to these emotional demands. Benefits that result include an increase in the capacity of medical personnel to positively influence their adjustment to illness, and for the patients, an increase in satisfaction with medical care in the context of improved communication with medical personnel.

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Advocacy activities

The Romanian Cancer Society is a founding member of the Federation of Cancer Patients Association, founded in 2005, with representation in the counties: Braşov, Cluj, Constanţa, Târgu Mureş, Bistrita-Nasaud, Bacau and Bucharest. The Federation has developed, so far, the following activities:

• Advocacy for patients’ rights through correspondence with the Public Health Ministry in order to obtain free breast prostheses and transportation facilities for regular check-ups for cancer patients. In order to obtain this, 2000 signatures have been gathered. We are now trying to accomplish hiring psychologists, social workers and sociologists in health institutions.
• In 2005, the Federation organized a Caravan, an informative and awareness activity for cancer patients and the public on cancer issues. It was organized in the cities where the Federation is represented.
• In 2007, the Federation organized a protest meeting following the new regulations on the distribution of oncology drugs. On this occasion, Cancer Patients Association in Brasov organized a protest meeting in front of the Public Health Ministry in Bucharest meant to determine authorities to pay attention to cancer patients’ problems. The Federation’s representatives had a meeting with the Health Minister and with representatives of the National Health Insurance Department. 2 voting seats in the Oncology Comission have been granted to the Federation’s representatives.
• Presentations in international conferences are given to raise awareness among stakeholders on the cancer issue in Romania.

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