road to hope this is documentary film produced by pharmaceutical company GSK which tells the story of eight women with gynecological cancer. three hiking trails in Tenerife. In it, they reveal their history, their shared experience and the characteristics that make them unique. They share among themselves and with everyone who wants to see the documentary all those feelings that have overwhelmed their chest since the diagnosis. But above all, they share their hope. And the fact is that, as the name suggests, assignment is the path to hope, both metaphorical and literal.
This is because the purpose of your walking tour is in Hopemunicipality located in Rose garden, on the island of Tenerife. This is a documentary aimed, on the one hand, to raise awareness of the importance of cancer prevention, as little known as gynecological cancer. But, on the other hand, it is aimed at encouraging all those people who are experiencing this or that cancer, and infecting them with a hope that sometimes they can give up.
the days rolled on 27, 28 and 29 May D will be presented in Madridnext month September. Meanwhile, some of the people involved in front of and behind the cameras are working to deliver the important message they wanted to put into it. AT hypertext We spoke with two of them: Iren Roldanmember of the Association of People with Ovarian Cancer (ASACO) and gynecological cancer patient, and Manuela Domenech, Commercial Director of GSK Oncology in Spain. This is what we were told.
Why gynecological cancer?
When we talk about gynecological cancer, we are referring to a group of cancers that includes ovarian, cervical, and endometrial cancers. According to Spanish Society of Medical Oncology (SEOM)In Spain, about 12,300 new cases are diagnosed each year. Most often it is the endometrium with 46% incidence. In 90% of cases, it is diagnosed in the early stages, so it usually has a favorable prognosis. However, the endometrium incidence 33%diagnosed much later. Approximately 80% of cases are diagnosed at advanced stages, reaching a mortality rate of 60%.
80% of ovarian cancers are diagnosed in advanced stages
For all this, it is very important to make it known. Other common cancers in women, such as breast cancer, are supported by numerous patient awareness and support campaigns, but gynecological cancer it’s very different. For this reason, GSK decided it would be a good idea to highlight this particular type of cancer in their documentary.
“Ovarian cancer is difficult to diagnose, which is why it is so important to visit a gynecologist and have annual checkups. The later it is diagnosed, the more the chance of survival decreases, but if it is recognized in time, the tumor is localized and can be operated on. Today, surgery even allows you to recover, the chances of a cure are very high. This was sort of the goal of choosing gynecological cancer. It was a rare disease, and it is very important to be close to the sick. And because they are women, we wanted to create the concept of female/gynecological cancer, in addition to breast cancer.”
Manuela Domenech, Commercial Director of GSK Oncology
Why Hope?
The makers of this documentary have made it clear that they wanted everything in it to revolve around hope. The choice of location was secondary when they accidentally discovered the existence of a small town called La Esperanza. But then suddenly everything made sense. Hope is a female name word that inspires us, which says a lot of things and we think we like it, which can identify many patients who are currently suffering from gynecological cancer,” says Domenech. “We discovered that there is a small town called La Esperanza, and we said: why not pave the way for hope?”
This is how the documentary project took the much more emotional concept they had originally thought of to the most literal. “For us it is to arrive at both physical and emotional to hope.” But in fact, the goal was much more than a simple journey. “This is a campaign to show and speak to all these patients, as well as their families and friends, in order to resolve the doubts that arise when diagnosing these diseases…”, describes the commercial director of GSK. “These are very rare cancers and it is important to raise awareness about the need to see a doctor and examination by a gynecologist“.
The symptoms of ovarian cancer are very non-specific and are sometimes mistakenly referred to other specialists.
And the fact is that, especially ovarian cancer, it has such non-specific symptoms that it is sometimes difficult to detect. Irene Roldan knows this well. “Symptoms may be abdominal pain, gas, need to urinate… they are so non-specific that sometimes they lead to something from the digestive system, ”he gives an example. “If you add to all this the fact that you were at a gyno exam and saw a cyst there, you can try to connect the dots and see that there is something else.” That’s why it’s so important prevention awareness this is done while traveling to La Esperanza.
Documentary covering all topics
We have seen that in this documentary awareness and optimism main parts. But this is not the only thing that is served on the way to La Esperanza.
All sorts of topics are covered, from the diet patients should have, both to prevent gynecological cancer, and after they’ve already been diagnosed, to the need to have other healthy habits such as exercise. It even touches on taboo topics like sex. This type of gynecological cancer very taboo in society and they mainly affect people of a certain age, young people are rarely quoted, because. from 50 years old and these are women who find it more difficult to talk about such things,” says Roldan. “Being able to normalize the fact that this brings you a number of problems and that there are ways to deal with them, with specialized physical therapists or psycho-oncologists who can help you with your obstacles, is very positive.”
The documentary focuses on taboo topics such as patients’ sexuality.
In addition, the ASACO member highlights the importance of associations such as the one she belongs to in addressing these issues. And also so that patients can seek solace in other people who have gone through the same thing as them.
Domenech agrees with her, who also adds: shock at diagnosis Surprisingly, there are many doubts. To create these meeting places where you see that there are other people who are going through this, just like you, is amazing, because of the hope that we are talking about.”
Know Yourself Better to Fight Gynecological Cancer
Among the stories told in the documentary, there are cases where many women in the same family suffer from gynecological cancer due to genetic mutation which are inherited from each other.
For this reason, it is important, in the case of knowledge of the existence of this mutation, to intensify prevention strategies. Because we have already seen that it is important to diagnose the disease in time.
The documentary features the stories of many women from the same family who are diagnosed with gynecological cancer.
Similarly, it affects some strategies that are sometimes overlooked. This is the case with the vaccine. human papillomaviruswhat helps prevent cervical cancer. “It is very important that both girls and boys wear it, because men are carriers,” recalls Domenech.
All of these prevention strategies gradually help to improve the prognosis of these diseases. There are more preventions, they take longer to develop, and when they appear, they can be diagnosed earlier, thereby reducing mortality. But there is still a long way to go, because, as Domenech rightly points out, there are still many cases of cancer reappearing. This is something that scientists should influence in search of a solution, but it should be known to everyone.
That’s why the documentary is so important. Road to hope. After all, this is not just a story of eight unique, strong and courageous women. This is a call for the attention of the entire society to gynecological cancer. But above all, as the title suggests, this is a song of hope. For Manuela Domenech, the moment of arrival in this small town in Tenerife was revitalizing experience. Irene Roldan describes this as a unique situation that ended fun, exciting and sentimental experience. They all arrived with overwhelming emotions and showed that hope can indeed be realized. Although this requires scientific research. Because without science there is no future, no hope.
Source: Hiper Textual
