The latest data shows that there are more than 1.1 million people with cancer in Ukraine, with a 60:40 division in favor of men. These figures are a timely reminder today of the danger the disease continues to pose, with World Cancer Day being marked.
Around 9,000 Ukrainian men die of lung cancer every year. While women are affected most by breast cancer, mortality levels are lower at 5,500 on average per annum. Overall, around 70,000 people die of cancer in Ukraine every year, ranking Ukraine second by cancer mortality in Europe.
Data from the National Cancer Registry of Ukraine for 2020 shows cancer detected almost equally at the four stages: stage I – 22.8%, stage II – 24.6%, stage III – 18.2%, and at stage IV – 20.5%.
Experts say this is one of the biggest problems: Since Soviet times, people have been accustomed to seeing their doctor only when something hurts.
So, while Ukrainians rarely visit a doctor for checkups, in the West most people, regardless of whether they have symptoms, undergo a complete examination every one or two years.
Stages of cancer
The first stage is when cancerous cells are newly born, when there are many of them, and they inhabit a certain place in the organs.
The second stage is when the cells reach the edges of the organs.
The third stage is “when cancer spreads outside the organ and their cells start to spread throughout the body, in all systems, “ explains Andriy Shipko, head of the National Cancer Institute, who added that even at a late stage, cancer can still be cured:
“Most people come in the late stages. The main thing is not to give up. Even in stage 4, a person can enter remission. And eventually return to a normal life. It's just that this treatment will take much longer,“
50% of how quickly a person is diagnosed depends on the individual. If you suspect you have cancer, you should consult a competent doctor. Because often, for example, a family doctor can treat a completely different disease without having any idea about that a tumor is present. Once doctors know that cancer has been diagnosed, doctors advise treatment in specialist hospitals.
Medicines available to Ukrainians
Once a person has received confirmation of his or her possible diagnosis, the person goes straight to an oncologist, who sends the patient for appropriate tests and diagnosis. If the diagnosis is confirmed, a panel of doctors is convened to decide how to treat the patient.
Today, almost the entire range of cancer treatments for patients is free. It can be found on the website of the National Health Service of Ukraine. It is normally a drug, research, and even surgery, though sometimes the patient has to buy certain consumables.
Doctors often complain about their working conditions. To improve them, the state budget for medicine should allocate about 12% of GDP, while just 3% is allocated. As a result, the salaries of health workers suffer, experts say.
"This year, our budget program took into account the purchase of expensive equipment for treating cancer. For example, linear accelerator is radiation therapy, also a very important method of treatment, which is very effective, which also significantly improves the results of treatment, prolongs life and reduces mortality. This year we plan to purchase 15 to 20 such devices,” said Arman Kacharyan, an expert at the Ministry of Health.
Such equipment is quite expensive, says the Ministry of Health, because, in addition to the high price, it also requires specialists and special facilities.
According to the National Health Service, about 9 billion hryvnias are slated to be allocated for treating cancer in Ukraine this year, which is almost 4 billion more than last year. This covers diagnosis, treatment and doctors pay.
The state also plans to approve European treatment protocols, which, according to experts, is also an important step that will help doctors to move progress in treating cancer, one of the most terrible and pervasive diseases in the world.
