Subject: South East Europe
Subject: Cancer Patients
Subject: diagnostic imaging
Subject: radiotherapy
Year: 2022
Type: Journal Article
Title: Availability of technology for managing cancer patients in the Southeast European (SEE) region
Author: Dosanjh, Manjit
Author: Ristova, Mimoza
Author: Gershan, Vesna
Author: Georgieva, Petya
Author: Balin Kovacevic, Marijana
Author: Bregu, Ledio
Author: Coralic, Irma
Author: Djurovic, Tamara
Author: Dosieva, Deyana
Author: Foka, Yiota
Author: Fröbe, Ana
Author: Hatziioannou, Konstantinos
Author: Hourdakis, Costas J.
Author: Kabashi, Yllka
Author: Kalev, Dimitar
Author: Kurtishi, Ilir
Author: Litov, Leandar
Author: Mezelxhiu, Beqir
Author: Nestoroska Madjunarova, Svetlana
Author: Nikolova, Gordana
Author: Skrk, Damijan
Author: Smajlbegovic, Velda
Author: Smichkoska, Snezhana
Author: Stojkovski, Igor
Author: Strojan, Primož
Author: Tecic, Zdravka
Author: Tešanović, Dušanka
Author: Todorovic, Vladimir
Author: Valerianova, Zdravka
Abstract: Background: The Southeast European (SEE) region of 10 countries and about 43 million people differs from Western Europe in that most SEE countries lack active cancer registries and have fewer diagnostic imaging devices and radiotherapy (RT) units. The main objective of this research is to initiate a common platform for gathering SEE regional cancer data from the ground up to help these countries develop common cancer management strategies. Methods: To obtain detailed on-the-ground information, we developed separate questionnaires for two SEE groups: a) ONCO - oncologists regarding cancer treatment modalities and the availability of diagnostic imaging and radiotherapy equipment; and b) REG - national radiation protection and safety regulatory bodies regarding diagnostic imaging and radiotherapy equipment in SEE facilities. Results: Based on responses from 13/17 ONCO participants (at least one from each country) and from 9/10 REG participants (all countries but Albania), cancer incidence rates are higher in those SEE countries that have greater access to diagnostic imaging equipment while cancer mortality-to-incidence (MIR) ratios are higher in countries that lack radiotherapy equipment. Conclusion: By combining unique SEE region information with data available from major global databases, we demonstrated that the availability of diagnostic imaging and radiotherapy equipment in the SEE countries is related to their economic development. While immediate diagnostic imaging and radiation therapy capacity building is necessary, it is also essential to develop both national and SEE-regional cancer registries in order to understand the heterogeneity of each country’s needs and to establish regional collaborative strategies for combating cancer.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Relation: Clinical and Translational Radiation Oncology
Identifier: oai:repository.ukim.mk:20.500.12188/17062
Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12188/17062Identifier: 10.1016/j.ctro.2022.03.004
Identifier: https://api.elsevier.com/content/article/PII:S2405630822000179?httpAccept=text/xmlIdentifier: https://api.elsevier.com/content/article/PII:S2405630822000179?httpAccept=text/plain
