The GMKA team presented five contributions at the 12th Annual Symposium on Global Cancer Research

Patient financial well-being and access to cancer treatment during wartime

• The survey revealed that even during the war, patients’ financial well-being did not impact the waiting time for cancer care in healthcare facilities. However, in Kharkiv, the proximity to hostilities resulted in patients paying more “out of pocket” for treatment.
• Out of 522 respondents, 201 (39%) paid for their treatment. 32% of them bought surgical instruments, 29% bought cancer drugs, and 10% paid to avoid waiting for treatment. No significant differences in waiting times for diagnosis and treatment were observed based on financial status.

Factors affecting cancer diagnosis and treatment delays in Ukraine

• A survey of 307 respondents revealed that 21.5% experienced delays in diagnosis. The primary reasons for these delays were doctors’ negligence (25.8%), expensive diagnostic tests (21.2%), long waiting times for results (18.2%), and the full-scale invasion by Russia (12.1%). 
• 20.5% of respondents faced treatment delays. 20.6% of them cited military actions as the cause, 19% pointed to the high cost of treatment, and another 19% cited the unavailability of prescribed drugs for purchase in Ukraine.

Enhancing Cancer Care in Ukraine: Insights from Doctor Perspectives

• The top recommendation for enhancing cancer care was to enhance the delivery of targeted cancer treatment and immunotherapy, voiced by 35.8% of respondents. 
• The team identified significant gaps in medical and surgical oncology care in Ukraine and proposed strategies to address them.

Factors affecting breast cancer screening in Ukraine

• The survey involved 435 primary care physicians from various regions across Ukraine. 
• Among them, 80.2% recommended women for screening mammography, 57.9% conducted screening clinical examinations of the mammary glands, 31% referred patients to a mammalogist, and 30.6% referred them to a gynecologist. 
• The team recognized significant barriers and factors that contribute to breast cancer screening from the viewpoint of primary care physicians in Ukraine.

Multidisciplinary cancer treatment capacity in Ukraine during the war

• The study revealed that, on average, there were 4.7 oncologists per regional cancer center, compared to the recommended 2.5.
• Similarly, the average number of nurses trained in chemotherapy administration was 6.4, falling short of the desired 8.6.
• Additionally, there were 8.2 infusion devices for chemotherapy on average, as opposed to the recommended 17.7.
• The average number of infusion chairs was 6.4, while the optimal number was 16.3. In terms of inpatient chemotherapy beds, there were 26.8 on average, below the desired 34.0. 
• The team identified significant deficiencies in both equipment and staffing levels within oncology care in Ukraine.