Every year over 15,000 new cancer patients are diagnosed in
Israel, joining another 100 thousand local cancer patients.
This information was reported in a survey conducted by the
Association for the War Against Cancer inaugurating their
annual "Hakesh Badelet" ("Knock on the Door")
campaign.
Dr. Micha Barchana, Director of the Health Ministry's unit
for the recording of cancer cases, reported the statistics.
Among reasons for the rise in the incidence of cancer
victims, he cites Israel's growing population as well as its
aging, as well as a rise in life expectancy. Statistics
indicate that there has been an increase in the percentage of
cancer cases in women among second generation Asian and
African immigrants. These rates are nearing those of European
and American immigrants.
According to the updated statistics, there has been a rise in
the number of cancer patients among women between 1990 and
1997, and the number of deaths from the illness in recent
years has reached 800 a month.
Over the past few years, a national project for the early
detection of cancer in women by means of mammography has been
conducted. Early detection increases the chances of a
cure.
Professor Eliezer Robinson, Chairman of the Association for
the War Against Cancer, notes that his organization has
helped to spur early detection. In addition, he delineated
the funds invested by the Association to improve treatment
and quality of life of cancer patients.
Shlomo Nachma, Director of Ericsson Investments and the
chairman of the directorate of Bank Hapoalim, is this year's
campaign chairman. Nachma states that this year's campaign
goal is the collection of NIS 11 million.
