Verona, free services for women with cancer. The first online oncology service is born

Verona, a digital reference point for women with breast cancer, with services that can also be used by other cancer patients. A desk where it is possible to book a hairdresser and oncology beautician in real time, participate in meditation and wellness meetings, book presentations, receive information in the healthcare sector.

The brand new digital Oncology Help Desk, active for a few days, is the latest project of the 'La Cura Sono Io' association, created by the founder and president Maria Teresa Ferrari to offer free fundamental services to people who find themselves dealing with the sense of uncertainty and helplessness caused by the disease, services linked to the territory of Verona and the province but also at a national level.
An online support desk for the Oncology and Breast Unit of the Verona, Borgo Roma and Borgo Trento hospitals, an important tool for those who, after a cancer diagnosis, don't know where to start to face what's to come.

Among the services offered, "Expressive reading in healing environments" promoted by the Verona Readers' Club and a naturopathy consultancy, designed for lightness from body to soul. There is no shortage of sections related to well-being and culture, considered a real "drug", and to ethical consultancy.

The project, which will soon also become an App, is created with the patronage and contribution of the Municipality of Verona, with the contribution of the Apollinare and Cesira Veronesi Foundation and of Agsm-Aim, in collaboration with the Cattolica Foundation and with Ulss 9 Scaligera and Brest Unit Scaligera and Oncology Convivio Project and Breast Unit of the Verona Integrated Hospital.

The initiative was presented today via streaming in the town hall by the Equal Opportunities Councilor Francesca Briani. Present were the creator and president of the association 'La Cura sono Io' Maria Teresa Ferrari, the general director of Ulss 9 Scaligera Pietro Girardi, the general director of AOUI Verona Callisto Bravi, the head of the Ulss9 Breast Unit - director of the Diagnostic Imaging Department Francesca Fornasa, the head of the AOUI Verona Breast Unit - director of the Verona Radiology Department Stefania Montemezzi. Connected online are the president of Agsm-Aim Stefano Casali, the general secretary of the Catholic Foundation Adriano Tomba and Chiara Ballini of the Apollinare Foundation and Cesira Veronesi.

“It is a pleasure to inaugurate an initiative of such high value – said councilor Briani -. A help desk that not only offers very important services for people who find themselves facing the difficult diagnosis of the disease, but which finds its strength in the multidisciplinarity and synergy between multiple entities. Without forgetting the importance of prevention, to which our health institutions have paid maximum attention even during the pandemic."

“The idea of ​​the help desk was born during the pandemic, when many women affected by cancer found themselves having to manage a suddenly difficult and complicated daily life – explained Maria Teresa Ferrari -. From there, the desire to give life to a project to help women access those services that become essential after an oncological diagnosis, ranging from hairdressers to beauticians, but also support in obtaining health information and participating in cultural initiatives. A truly important goal, both for the La Cura Sono Io association but also on a personal level, a goal that I have worked towards tirelessly over the last year and which encouraged me even during the reappearance of the disease. I can only thank all the extraordinary group of women and friends of Cura Sono Io who supported me on this journey and all the organizations and institutions that made it happen."

“The pandemic has accustomed us to the digital approach and has highlighted its potential – underlined director Bravi -. The hope is that the oncology service is only the first, and that many other pathologies will soon find efficient support like this."

“Technology and its progress are very important in treatment and offer us increasingly useful tools – added general director Girardi -. Equally fundamental, however, is the psychological aspect and the strength with which man faces the disease, and this project is proof of this."

Doctors Montemezzi and Fornasa spoke on the topic of screening, recalling how the screening activity in Verona and its province, during Covid, stopped for only a few weeks, and then resumed with renewed energy and the provision of new machinery.