Nationwide "Ukrainian Day" against breast cancer
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October 20 is the nationwide "Ukrainian Day" against breast cancer
Press conference devoted to the nationwide "Ukrainian Day" against breast cancer was held on October 20, 2016, at 11:00 a.m., in the conference hall of the Lviv Oblast-level State Cancer Treatment and Diagnostics Center located at 2a Ya. Hasheka St. (2nd floor).
The journalists met with the Head phycisian of the Cancer Treatment and Diagnostics Centre, Mr. Ihor Kovalchuk, Deputy Head physician for the medical unit, Mr. Orest Tril, Head of the mammology department, Mr. Roman Ivantsiv, and the Subproject Management Consultant of the "Preventive oncology and the implementation of effective anti-tumour technologies in Lviv oblast" Subproject, Ms. Khrystyna Pak.
"In Ukraine, the Day against cancer is celebrated annually on October 20. This does not mean that this issue is only addressed once per year; however, today is a good opportunity to remind all women that life is in their hands," - stated the Head physician of the regional Cancer Treatment and Diagnostics Centre, Mr. Ihor Kovalchuk.
Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in women both in Ukraine and worldwide. Unfortunately, most oftenly it affects young women in their reproductive age, specifically from 45 years with the peak of the disease being in the age between 55 and 65 years.
In 2015, 833 new cases of breast cancer were detected in Lviv oblast, 10 of which were diagnosed in men. Almost 8% of the female patients did not survive one year from the time of the diagnosis, as diagnosing at the III-IV stages (20% of cases) minimizes the chances of recovery. Already within 9 months of 2016, 561 new cases of breast cancer have been detected in women. It may be argued that the incidence rate increases moderately.
The issue of early diagnosis and cancer prevention among women in Ukraine is a very pressing one. Unfortunately, in many cases when women are diagnosed with cancer, it is already at an advanced stage, and, as a result, the effectiveness of treatment and recovery decreases.
In general, the two major problems pertaining to both the Lviv oblast and Ukraine in general are late diagnosis and high mortality rate from cancer, as well as significant costs and complexity of treatment at a later stage, since in these cases there is a need to use a full set of expensive methods of combined treatment (surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy).
Nearly 14 thousand of Ukrainian women are diagnosed with cancer each year (statistics without the data associated with the occupied territories). Each year, almost 6 thousand women die from this type of cancer in Ukraine.
Every hour, breast cancer is detected in 3 women in Ukraine; 1 woman dies from it.
With age, the risk of cancer increases, so in the age between 45 and 55 years - 1 case per 1000 women per year occures, while in the age between 60 and 70 years - already 2 cases of breast cancer per 1,000 women. Within 10 years, 1-2 out of 100 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer.
To prevent breast cancer, elementary to highly effective methods of diagnosis are used; of course, each of these has its advantages and disadvantages.
"Mammography is the golden standard in the diagnosis of breast cancer, which makes it possible to detect a tumor from a few mm, which is the I stage, having 95% chances of recovery. However, mammography as a kind of radiation diagnosis is a source of radiation, so it is recommended for women in the age between 45 and 65 years," - stated Orest Tril.
Roman Ivantsiv spoke about the development of science with respect to breast cancer surgery: from surgeries resulting in disability to modern organ savings surgeries, and minimally invasive surgical interventions. Least traumatic surgeries are widely used in the mammology department of the Cancer treatment and diagnostics centre in accordance with the medical indications at early stages of the detected tumors. The level of organ savings surgeries in the mmammology department has reached 28% and is used in the full range (from lampectomy, quadrantectomy and up to the transfer of the tissue flaps and the use of implants).
Khrystyna Pak described the progress of the project implementation, as the major procurements of the medical equipment have been already carried out; this being equipment for minimally invasive surgery, for radiotherapeutic diagnostics, and laboratory equipment.
All procurements are held in accordance with the rules of the World Bank; the majority of the procurements are held under the international competitive bidding procedures, which enables the participation of the manufacturers of medical equipment. All announcements regarding the procurements, including the results, are published on the official websites of the Health care Department of Lviv Oblast State Administration. The nearest delivery of equipment is expected already by the end of the year.
Under the order of the Head of the LOSA, multi-district screening centres were establish in Lviv (oblast-level and municipal), Drohobych, Stryi, Sambir, and Chervonohrad. Digital mammorgraphy devices, colposcopes, gynaecological chairs, and ultrasound devices will be installed in the centers.
The introduction of electronic registry of the female population in Lviv oblast is significant within the project. With such base of women and information about their age, we will be able to invite women for examination in the nearest diagnostic centre, specifically those who are at risk in the first place, to monitor the results, and to follow up the level of women who are not involved in screening, while affecting them via mass media and the medical network.
As part of the project, much attention will be paid to training of doctors with respect to cervical cancer and breast cancer treatment. Study visits to the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and the SCANMED St. Raphael hospital in Krakow (Poland) have already been held under the project. The next step will be training of mammologists and cytologists in the oblast, strengthening the management personnel of the oncology service for implementing screening, and training of the experts of the multi-regional screening centres.
"Most importantly is that an awareness raising campaign will be launched soon among women - their life depends on the responsibility for their own health: regular and timely examinations may save their lives," - said Khrystyna Pak.
However, we do understand that any of our measures would not be effective unless we, women, fully comprehend the idea that only regular examinations and following the recommendations of physicians is the key to women's health!
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