The number of cancer patients is growing in Belarus. What is the reason?
In most Belarusian regions, the number of cancer patients has increased compared to last year. Cancer is getting younger, especially in women. The Ministry of Health associates the growing numbers with early diagnosis and the end of the pandemic – both doctors and patients have changed their focus. However, there is also a problem with the medical staff, say experts interviewed by DW.
According to the Ministry of Health, the number of malignant neoplasms detected in Belarus remains high compared to a significant decline in the first years of the pandemic. Thus, in 2022, 15% more cases of oncological diseases were detected in the Grodno region compared to 2021, in the Mogilev region – 12%, in the Brest region – 11% and 7% in the Minsk region. During covid, assistance to cancer patients was partially limited, and patients themselves tried once again not to go to medical centers so as not to catch the virus (and this was the case all over the world). Since 2022, patients are more active in attending appointments and accepting screening to identify the disease at an early stage. Last year, 50 thousand cases were detected, in 2019 (before the pandemic) – 54 thousand.
Statistics are growing due to early diagnosis
The numbers can vary greatly depending on the improvement in diagnostics, explains Belarusian scientist Oleg Doroshkevich, who led the project on early diagnosis of chronic diseases in the High Technology Park. “Before, most cancers were diagnosed at a late stage: the patient came to the doctor when it was already unbearable, that is, in the incurable stage. Screening programs help to identify the disease at different stages – and the total number is growing. But the main indicator is mortality”, explains the expert.
Over the past ten years, the number of deaths from cancer in Belarus has been about the same – about 18,000 cases a year. The oncoprogression indicator is 19.8% (the fourth stage has become smaller, but there is an increase in the third). There are more patients who are observed for more than five years. This indicates effective treatment, notes the Ministry of Health – after 5 years, the risk of relapse becomes minimal.
In men, prostate cancer still ranks first, in women – breast cancer, and in total in both sexes – colorectal cancer. The structure of mortality has not changed either, here the main causes are breast cancer in women and lung cancer in men.
At the state level, there is an understanding that it is necessary to develop early diagnoses – screening of four locations is carried out: cancer of the cervix, breast, prostate, colorectal cancer. Triage centers are being created in the regions, a source at the Republican Scientific and Practical Center (RSPC) for oncology and medical radiology told DW.
“A project is now underway in Belarus to screen smokers for lung cancer,” notes the caller. “More than 1.5 thousand people underwent the study, 2% were diagnosed with oncology. This is a very good indicator, usually tumors are detected in 0.5% of those examined. % of patients diagnosed with cancer are at stage 1 or 2. The five-year survival rate for these patients approaches 80%.”
If breast cancer was detected in the first stage, after five years of treatment, almost 100% of patients do not remember the disease, says the specialist. But if the cancer is detected in the third stage, the five-year cure rate drops to 35%.
Problems with the medical team
As of March 30, 2023, 6,505 vacancies for physicians and 3,909 for nurses were made available on the website of the state employment service (for comparison: in December 2022, 4,654 physicians and 3,397 nurses were needed). The medical initiative “White Coats” notes that there are not enough specialists in oncology departments.
In 2020, after the protests, mass layoffs began at the Republican Scientific and Practical Center for Pediatric Oncology, Hematology and Immunology – about 25% of the oncologists left and the director was also fired. According to White Coats, many positions were occupied by young doctors with up to one year of experience. At the same time, the load is not reduced and is distributed among existing employees. At the same time, there are not enough doctors in the consulting polyclinic, the MRI machine did not work in March, patients are sent for examinations at their place of residence, children from the hospital are taken to other hospitals, the initiative notes.
Based on his experience of working with specialists of the Republican Scientific and Practical Center for Medical Oncology and Radiology, Oleg Doroshkevich notes that there are many talented and professional doctors there, “but there is a huge outflow of personnel abroad.”
“The state is increasing target recruitment so that graduates are guaranteed to stay in Belarus. But this will not help,” the expert believes. “We have a good basic education, so Belarusian doctors, especially oncologists, will continue to be in demand abroad. If there is no security in the country and respect for the profession, nothing will change.”
More than ten doctors in Belarus are political prisoners. Among them is one of the best specialists of the Republican Scientific and Practical Center for Pediatric Oncology, transplantologist Aleksey Alekseychik, who has performed several bone marrow transplants over the past 20 years. He was sentenced to 2.5 years in prison for comments in a chat created by colleagues, which were considered “appeals against national security”.
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Source: DW
Anna White is a journalist at 247 News Reel, where she writes on world news and current events. She is known for her insightful analysis and compelling storytelling. Anna’s articles have been widely read and shared, earning her a reputation as a talented and respected journalist. She delivers in-depth and accurate understanding of the world’s most pressing issues.