Cancer Screening Training Program for Medical Officers (CSTP-MO)

MoHFW is in the process of rolling out population-based cancer screening of cervical, breast and oral cancers in the primary health center, under the NCD control program. They intend to roll this out with the assistance of existing workforce. Thus, it is imperative that all health care providers are well versed with cancer screening.

As per the operational framework document, screening of oral, breast and cervical cancers will be done at PHCs/ SHCs by staff nurses/ ANMs. The abnormalities found upon screening will be referred to the nearest higher health facility (CHC/DH) upon the evaluation of the medical officers (MOs). Thus, it is absolutely essential that they are knowledgeable in cancer screening and its guidelines.

The training course will provide a basic understanding of cancer screening for three preventable cancers viz. oral, breast and cervical. VIA test, the choice of screening test for cervical cancer in India will be discussed in great detail, followed by its evaluation for effective management of screen positives. Breast cancer screening and treatment modalities such as self breast examination (SBE) and clinical breast examination (CBE) and management.

Oral cancer and its burden in our country, where smokeless tobacco use is almost 85% of the world, is well known to all of us. This followed by tobacco cessation will be discussed in detail.