On Friday, 25 April 2025, in the lecture hall of the Biology Building of Dagestan State Medical University, the activists of the Volunteer Centre together with the Student Scientific Circle on Oncology organised a seminar on the topic ‘Esophageal cancer: diagnosis, treatment and prevention’.

The aim of the event was to raise awareness among students and practising doctors about methods of early detection of the pathology, its clinical manifestations and modern approaches to therapy. This disease ranks sixth among the causes of death from oncological pathologies and requires special attention from the medical community.

The invited expert was Zaira Zakarzhaeva, an experienced oncologist, mammologist, thoracic surgeon and lecturer at the Oncology Department of DSMU with many years of experience. 

During the seminar, key aspects of the disease were discussed in detail: symptoms, stages of development, possible complications and innovative methods of treatment. The audience was particularly interested in real clinical cases, as well as stories of patients at risk, which clearly demonstrated the importance of timely diagnosis.

‘Oesophageal cancer is not a sentence if you recognise it in time. Our task is not to be afraid to talk about the problem, but to learn how to prevent it,’ Dr Zakarzhaeva stressed.

The active part of the event included live discussion, analysis of complex clinical cases and interactive masterclasses. Thanks to the multi-format approach, the seminar brought together more than 100 participants: medical students, residents, practicing physicians and representatives of patient organisations.

The event ended with an important symbolic action: each participant received a memo with a QR code containing links to current clinical recommendations, scientific articles and useful resources for patients.

The organisers noted: ‘Disease recedes when faced with an educated society. Your awareness is a shield that will protect not only you, but also those around you.’

According to volunteers from Dagestan State Medical University, such seminars will become regular and cover other relevant topics in the field of oncology.