{"id":158785,"date":"2025-11-28T23:34:06","date_gmt":"2025-11-28T23:34:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/158785\/"},"modified":"2025-11-28T23:34:06","modified_gmt":"2025-11-28T23:34:06","slug":"incan-increases-cancer-care-capacity-as-it-celebrates-79-years","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/158785\/","title":{"rendered":"INCan Increases Cancer Care Capacity as It Celebrates 79 Years"},"content":{"rendered":"

Mexico\u2019s National Institute of Cancerology (INCan) marked its 79th anniversary by outlining advances in technology, patient care, and specialist training, as well as the institution\u2019s expanding role in the country\u2019s oncology system. INCan, which treats about 7% of all cancer cases nationwide, reported significant growth in services for breast, prostate, and cervical cancer between 2018 and 2024, accompanied by new precision-treatment capabilities and strengthened academic partnerships.<\/p>\n

The anniversary underscores the responsibility of sustaining nearly eight decades of service, research, and specialist formation, says \u00d3scar Arrieta, Director General, INCan<\/a>. He adds that the institute has continued expanding its reach despite rising demand and the operational pressures characteristic of a national referral center.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThe anniversary represents a responsibility to continue 79 years of attention, research and training that strengthen the country\u2019s fight against cancer,\u201d says Arrieta. He explains that the institution remains focused on improving access, modernizing equipment, and integrating innovations that support clinical decision-making and patient outcomes.<\/p>\n

Data shared by INCan show that breast cancer care grew 146% from 2018 to 2024, while prostate cancer cases increased 89% and cervical cancer cases rose 56%. These three conditions represent some of the country\u2019s most prevalent cancers, and the increases reflect both population needs and the institute\u2019s role as a high-complexity center of last resort. In 2024, INCan delivered 318,000 consultations across oncology disciplines, a figure Arrieta describes as evidence of the sustained workload facing medical, nursing, technical, and administrative staff.<\/p>\n

With demand rising, the institute projects that more than 8,300 new patients will be registered for first-time care in 2025. INCan reports that this increase is an opportunity to intensify early-detection programs and strengthen rapid-reference pathways, especially for cancers with high mortality when diagnosed late. \u201cIf Mexico wants to reduce breast cancer mortality, we must ensure earlier detection and faster access to treatment,\u201d says Gabriela Torres, Researcher, National Institute of Public Health (INSP). <\/a>\u201cAt least 60% of cases should be identified in stages I or II, and no more than 60 days should pass between a woman\u2019s first medical visit and a histopathological diagnosis. Timely pathways are essential for survival and for guaranteeing dignified, comprehensive care.\u201d<\/p>\n

Recent technological additions have become central to the institute\u2019s modernization strategy. Arrieta highlights the incorporation of stereotactic radiosurgery and radiotherapy in October, aimed particularly at skin cancer and cutaneous lesions. This technique allows high-precision treatment and can reduce exposure to surrounding tissues. INCan also introduced robotic surgery equipment in August 2024, expanding minimally invasive options. These tools aim to decrease hospital stays, reduce complications, and mitigate treatment toxicity. Both investments align with broader plans to update diagnostic and therapeutic technology, including future upgrades to PET-CT scanners and other imaging equipment.<\/p>\n

Academic training remains a core function of INCan, which maintains 68 active agreements with national and international universities. Fifty-five agreements cover undergraduate training, with 210 students enrolled, and 13 are at the postgraduate level, supporting over 450 medical residents. Arrieta emphasized that linking laboratory research with clinical operations through translational models has strengthened the development of diagnostic tools, targeted therapies and prevention strategies. INCan sees this integration as essential for expanding scientific rigor and accelerating the application of findings to patient care.<\/p>\n

Since 2022, INCan has operated under a gratuity model that covers surgery, radiotherapy, and medications, including access to targeted therapies, molecular studies, and immunotherapy. The model is designed to reduce financial barriers and improve continuity of care for patients from across the country. The institute is also prioritizing the expansion of supportive services such as mental health, nutrition, and rehabilitation, recognizing their role in comprehensive oncology treatment.<\/p>\n

Prevention and screening remain part of the institution\u2019s long-term strategy. Arrieta highlights the DETECTO program, launched to enable early lung cancer detection through low-dose CT scanning. The program has shown effectiveness in identifying cases that might otherwise progress without symptoms, positioning it as a regional benchmark for screening initiatives in Latin America.<\/p>\n

Looking ahead, INCan aims to broaden access to innovative medications, increase radiotherapy infrastructure, and continue integrating digital technologies to enhance diagnostic precision and patient comfort. These goals come as the institute evaluates ways to manage growing patient volumes and ensure timely access to specialized care.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Mexico\u2019s National Institute of Cancerology (INCan) marked its 79th anniversary by outlining advances in technology, patient care, and…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":158786,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[4677,12031,4641,12240,134,39030,104731,104732,27781,111,139,69,6840,1675],"class_list":{"0":"post-158785","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-health","8":"tag-breast-cancer","9":"tag-cancer-care","10":"tag-cancer-treatment","11":"tag-early-detection","12":"tag-health","13":"tag-health-infrastructure","14":"tag-incan","15":"tag-insp","16":"tag-medical-technology","17":"tag-new-zealand","18":"tag-newzealand","19":"tag-nz","20":"tag-oncology","21":"tag-public-health"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/158785","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=158785"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/158785\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/158786"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=158785"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=158785"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=158785"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}