“Ukraine’s health care system has to evolve, and cancer treatment must be made accessible to everyone who needs it,” says Dr Sergii Sikachov, a cancer surgeon and oncologist who works at the National Cancer Institute in Kyiv, Ukraine.
“I remove tumours from the liver, pancreas and bile duct. The majority of these tumours are aggressive, and surgical procedures involving these organs often lead to postoperative complications.”
Cancer is the second most common cause of death and morbidity in the WHO European Region, with more than 3.7 million new cases and 1.9 million deaths reported each year. Together with cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases, cancer is a leading cause of premature death in Ukraine. Together these diseases account for 91% of premature deaths in the country each year. Many cancer cases are avoidable and treatable. Chance of survival is significantly higher if the cancer is detected at an early stage.
Sergii explains that building a culture of health and equipping communities with the right knowledge and tools can help with early detection. “We need to educate the public on cancer prevention and teach them how to check for tumours.”
Making sure patients have the information they need
Recognizing that raising public awareness of cancer and its symptoms is not an easy task, Sergii says, “Both policy-makers and health care workers should focus on populations at risk and provide them with timely information on relevant treatment options to ensure better outcomes. I think cancer patients should be fully informed about their condition.”
When patients have a clear understanding of their treatment plan, they are better able to cope with uncertainty, Sergii adds.
Myths about non-conventional treatments, however, continue to hold patients back from life-saving treatment.
“People go with myths often because of misinformation or lack of knowledge. In my opinion one of the most dangerous beliefs is that cancer can be cured by alternative medicine therapies alone. While I agree that conventional medicine does not always work 100% of the time, it does offer the latest and most efficient treatment methods.”
Cancer and COVID-19
The COVID-19 pandemic has been another unprecedented barrier to treatment, causing delays and putting health care workers like Sergii at a crossroads.
“We couldn’t decide whether it was more dangerous to postpone a patient’s treatment or continue with the risk of contracting COVID-19. It was an extremely scary situation for all of us. Luckily, we now have more information on the virus and how it affects cancer patients.”
Cancer treatment therapies as well as surgery are quickly evolving, which means that specialists must find ways to keep their medical knowledge and skills up-to-date in order to deliver the highest quality of care.
“Cancer surgery is changing very quickly. If you know English, you have access to a lot of useful information. You can provide medical care that is in line with international standards in Ukraine, but we need an enabling environment to do so.”
The year 2021 has been designated by WHO as the International Year of Health and Care Workers in appreciation of and gratitude for their unwavering dedication in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.
This story has been developed by the WHO Country Office in Ukraine, with financial assistance from the European Union (EU) within the EU and WHO initiative on health system development in Ukraine, and is part of a series of stories showcasing Ukrainian health care workers.