Today's press conference will present the campaign, now in its 14th edition

Rome, 30 September 2024 – The ‘Frecciarosa - la prevenzione viaggia in treno’ campaign, now in its 14th edition, promoted by Fondazione IncontraDonna and FS Group, is back. The project is patronised by the Ministry of Health, with the participation of AIOM (Italian Association of Medical Oncology), many other Bodies and Institutions, including Farmindustria, and leading Italian Scientific Societies. Every year, over 395,000 new cancer diagnoses are registered in our Country (208,000 in men and 187,000 in women). Breast cancer is the most widespread, with 55,900 cases in 2023 (including 500 in men). 40% of all cancer diseases could be avoided by eliminating or modifying risk factors. Therefore, to promote prevention and correct information, for the entire month of October (Monday to Friday), travellers on board Frecce, Regional and Intercity trains will have access to a free information and consultancy service on cancer prevention, led by doctors provided by AIOM (Italian Association of Medical Oncology). In addition, this year, remote consultations to receive medical clarifications, suggestions and indications may also be booked on the 'Frecciarosa.it' platform, with necessary follow up in a SSN (National Healthcare System) facility. The initiative is aimed at promoting primary prevention, correcting lifestyles and encouraging adherence to the three cancer screenings as active public health models in Italy: mammography screening, pap smear/HPV DNA testing, and faecal occult blood testing. Moreover, the doctors and volunteers will also distribute the 'Health Vademecum' on board the trains, drawn up in cooperation with the Ministry of Health. This ABC of prevention contains healthy lifestyle advice useful to the entire population, both travelling and not, and its digital version can be downloaded in Italian and English. The campaign is being presented today in Rome at a press conference moderated by Alberto Matano (RAI journalist) and Mauro Boldrini (AIOM Communications Director).

"Once again this year, we are renewing our commitment alongside Fondazione IncontraDonna and the institutions for the 14th edition of Frecciarosa, a health initiative that is now part of FS Group's DNA," said Stefano Cuzzilla, president of Trenitalia (FS Group). "Offering our travellers a health-protection service for the entire month of October is of fundamental importance to us, because it helps us to spread and foster a culture of correct information, wellness and prevention, especially to contrast the onset of breast cancer. In addition, the Frecciarosa 2024 edition will be enriched by a new important 'off-board' stage," continued Cuzzilla. "On 24 October, with the help of ASL ROMA 1 and the space offered by the FS Group's Logistics Hub, a mobile unit will be present at the San Lorenzo railway station in Rome, offering several healthcare services free of charge."

"Eight out of ten women manage to defeat breast cancer almost permanently, and this highlights the excellent level of care we provide to our patients," emphasises Prof. Adriana Bonifacino, President of Fondazione IncontraDonna. "Nonetheless, prevention needs to be promoted more throughout our Country. October is breast cancer prevention month, and on this occasion, we must remember that breast screening adherence rates are still low, especially in some regions. On a national level, we registered a 3.5% decrease between 2021 and 2022. Those data can certainly be improved, and we, as Fondazione IncontraDonna, are proud to renew our commitment to promoting a culture of prevention, by presenting the 14th national Frecciarosa campaign. This year too, we will offer free medical consultations 'on board' to both the female and male population. Our volunteers will convey healthcare-related messages aimed at encouraging families, women, men, children and the elderly to take care of themselves, while helping to strengthen the value of and trust in our National Health System."

"Promoting women's health means investing in the future of our society. Prevention is the most powerful tool we have to ensure our well-being and longevity," says Dr. Maria Rosaria Campitiello, Head of the Department of Prevention, Research and Health Emergencies at the Ministry of Health. "As Ministry of Health, we are committed to raising awareness and facilitating access to check-ups and preventive care, so that every woman can take care of herself and face tomorrow with confidence. To this end, we must ensure a clear, transparent and accessible communication to all, so that everyone can contribute in preserving the common welfare. The only way to build a stronger healthcare system and a healthier population is through constant and comprehensive prevention."

"We have decided to renew our support to this important initiative," say Saverio Cinieri, President of the AIOM Foundation, and Alessandra Fabi, AIOM National Councillor.  "Cancer is becoming an increasingly treatable and curable disease, with many patients who succeed in defeating it and going back to living life 'as before'. From 2007 to 2019 alone, more than 268,000 cancer deaths were avoided in Italy. Of these, more than 10,000 involved breast cancer. We have witnessed great therapeutic innovation in recent years concerning this disease. However, prevention remains one of the most effective tools at our disposal, and following a few simple rules every day is often enough."

"The initiative that kicks off today is an excellent example of the way we focus on prevention issues, a fundamental value for health and an investment for the whole Country. Farmindustria has supported IncontraDonna and FS Group's project from the very beginning, with conviction," says Carlo Riccini, Deputy Director General of Farmindustria. "Prevention and pharmaceutical innovation allow for increasingly higher and better answers to the demand for treatment. This is evidenced by the rise in life expectancy. The number of newly authorised drugs is growing. And today, there are more than 9K oncology drugs in the global pipeline, out of a total of about 23K. With personalised therapies that are more effective for health, especially for women. Companies in Italy invest EUR 2 billion each year in basic research and clinical trials, thanks in part to the many excellences of the National Health Service, with which they form an ecosystem of great value for Life Sciences."

"Agenas is engaged in the six-monthly monitoring of cancer screening, as well as in awareness-raising activities with respect to prevention activities, and it is precisely for this reason that the Agency is pleased to participate in the ‘Frecciarosa’ project, which focuses on the importance of prevention through a ‘proximity’ approach," says Dr. Manuela Tamburo De Bella, Head of UOS Hospital Clinical Networks and Monitoring DM 70/2015 AGENAS. "We should remember that there is still a lot of room for improvement for breast cancer in 2023 by Regions and Autonomous Provinces, especially in some parts of our Country, both with respect to invitations to the target population and to the screening performed. Furthermore, it should be considered how, thanks to the resources made available by the PNRR (National Recovery and Resilience Plan, Mission 6, Component 2), the Ministry of Health, the Regions and Autonomous Provinces are committed to the renewal and modernisation of existing technological and digital facilities. It will still take some time, but the goal is to avoid unnecessary repetition of examinations at close follow-up, and to reach a diagnosis or its exclusion more quickly (as suggested by Europe's Beating Cancer plan 2022)."

The 2024 edition is enriched by a new, important 'off-board' stage, presented today by Sabrina De Filippis, Managing Director of Mercitalia Logistics: on 24 October, with the help of ASL ROMA 1 and the spaces offered by the FS Group's Logistics Hub, a mobile unit will be present at the San Lorenzo train station, in Rome. People within the age range specified by the NHS will be eligible for various services, such as pap smears, HPV vaccinations and mammograms free of charge. In addition, thanks to the volunteers of Fondazione IncontraDonna, awareness-raising activities will be carried out, aimed at inviting screening recipients to log on to the portals of their region for information on prevention campaigns.

Finally, the campaign features a number of testimonials including: Lucia Ocone, Alessandra Tripoli and Paola Saluzzi, and a delegation from the Roma Volley Club representing the Women's Volleyball League. Today's conference is also attended by Dr. Giuseppe Quintavalle (Extraordinary Commissioner of the Azienda Sanitaria Locale Roma 1), Alessandro Delle Donne (General Management, Giovanni Paolo II Cancer Institute - IRCCS of Bari), and Valeria Panzironi (Director of the Strategies, Development Projects and Shared Services at Sport e Salute). The project is also supported by the non-conditional contribution of several companies, such as GSK and Eli Lilly Italia.