The pandemic caused significant reductions in the number of citizens seeking preventive examinations
THE Cancer is and will remain one of the most important public health issues worldwide, but also in Greece. The great progress that has been made in many scientific branches applied to the study of the disease has brought about significant improvements in its diagnosis and treatment. Unknown until a few years ago, molecular and genetic peculiarities that characterize cancer cells and the capabilities of the human immune (defense) system have highlighted the complexity of the disease and have transformed therapeutic practices from harsher forms to more flexible and selective in the particularities of each separate form cancer, leading the scientific community to a new form of treatments, personalized treatments.
Treatments concerning both the effect on molecular mechanisms, pathways, and the better recognition of cancer cells by immune cells. With these developments, several forms of cancer have ceased to be associated with an early loss of life and are now chronic illnesses, which in addition to prolonging survival also offer a better quality of life, reports APE-MPE the Evangelos Filopoulospresident of the Hellenic Cancer Society, on the occasion of February 4th World Cancer Day.
It is a mistake to neglect the present
“Despite all these advances, it would be a mistake to neglect our present, relying on the hope that each of us personally will be lucky not to develop cancer, or that when it does come, even more effective drugs will have appeared to make it well,” he emphasizes Mr. Filopoulos.
It is certain that despite the progress that has been achieved, the disease will continue to threaten man and society and even more frequently. On the other hand, it has been established and is absolutely true nowadays that a large percentage of new cases can be avoided by primary prevention (such as avoiding smoking, alcoholic beverages, poor diet, sedentary lifestyle) and by detecting the disease in its early stages, when the possibilities of dealing with it are much easier and effective.
Lack of organized early diagnosis centers
“Unfortunately, in Greece there are no organized early diagnosis centers for population control, which is due both to the great inequalities that exist due to the place of residence of the citizens, their socio-economic situation, the unequally distributed health structures and the prejudices that continue to exist for cancer”, says Mr. Filopoulos.
Calvary of the patient
The president of the Hellenic Cancer Federation-ELLOK spoke about the problems faced by oncology patients, Kate Apostolidou.
The patient who receives a cancer diagnosis, as well as his family, in addition to the strong shock of the unknown and life-threatening that he has to face, is completely alone in the many problems for which he is required to receive very soon decisions. “Who is the right doctor to consult? Which hospital has a cancer clinic? What treatments are prescribed for his case? Are they provided in one or more hospitals? How will he get to the hospital if he is in another city? What will he do with his job or business? How long will he be gone? What are the state benefits for cancer patients? How will she find preschool or daycare for the children while she is in treatment? Who will take care of the family? How will he deal with the expenses if he will not be able to work?”
The above, as mentioned by Mrs. Apostolidou, are a minimal number of problems for which the newly diagnosed patient and his family must find answers on their own. The forty cancer patient associations in the country are a source of information and support, but the new patient may not even know they exist. At the level of the Ministry of Health, there is no information about the steps that a citizen who has just been diagnosed with cancer can follow, in order to get immediate and valid information, not only about starting his treatment in the appropriate hospital for his case, but also about the processes in the health system and the social and economic problems faced by the cancer patient, given that his treatment can last two or more years.
The effects of the pandemic
The situation of oncology patients was worsened by the advent of the pandemic, where apart from anti-cancer hospitals, the rest of the health units were dedicated almost exclusively to this unprecedented health test, says Mr. Filopoulos.
Both international studies and Greek observations show that the pandemic caused significant reductions in the number of citizens resorting to preventive tests, while even those who had shown some unusual symptoms for them avoided visiting hospitals or diagnostic centers.
A study with international data showed that the pandemic disrupted cancer screening so that, during it, reduced cancer rates were reported by all screening programs.
So it is expected that in addition to the increase in the number of cancers that will be diagnosed after the pandemic, a significant percentage will be diagnosed at more advanced stages, says Mr. Filopoulos.
“So on the occasion of February 4th, it is an opportunity for us all to mobilize and demand from ourselves, our people, society but, of course, also from the state, to reduce the unequal opportunities that exist in accessing early diagnosis services and treatment due to geographical peculiarities (big cities – countryside), socio-economic situation of the citizens, old age and cultural and other peculiarities”, he concludes.
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