Tumors, Palou De Comasema (Merck): "1300 collaborators involved in 'Don't beat around the bush'"

The 'Don't go around' campaign "involved 1,300 employees of Merck Italia. A wonderful example of collaboration with patient associations and doctors, to raise awareness of the symptoms and importance of early diagnosis of bladder cancer. It was great fun to work all together and today's final day demonstrates the spirit with which we carried out this campaign". So said Ramon Palou De Comasema, general manager of Merck Italia, speaking in Rome at the final stage of the 'Don't go around' tour, the awareness campaign on urothelial cancer, promoted by the pharmaceutical company that followed all the stages of the Giro D'Italia. For 35 years, the pharmaceutical company has been involved in the oncology area and "ten days ago it was announced" that Merck would also be entering the "rare tumors" area - the general manager said - where the number of patients in need is small, but the needs are enormous and we want to benefit them", he declared. Merck has confirmed its 'beyond the drug' approach to cancer patients also through the 'Manifesto for the humanization of oncology care', created in collaboration with the patient associations Ailar, Walce and PaLiNUro and with leading clinicians in the oncology field and presented last March 11, during a meeting held in Rome. A document aimed at improving the quality of life and psychological well-being of cancer patients. "Cancer cannot be a battle that the pharmaceutical industry can win alone - Comasema underlined - We need all the support of society. Politicians, patient associations, doctors' associations. The manifesto poses to all of society the challenge of achieving a goal: the end of cancer. And helping the patient to have a better and longer life. It is a fundamental goal", he concludes.