Peter Mac stands in solidarity with the people of Ukraine and the healthcare workers who are supporting them.

We express our deep concern for the estimated 179,000 newly diagnosed cancer patients* who now face an even more uncertain future with disruptions to treatment posing a grave risk to their survival. 

“In the first days after the Russian attack many cancer centres in Kharkiv, Mariupol, Sumy, Chernihiv, and eastern Ukraine had to evacuate their staff as some centres were destroyed by shelling,” the British Medical Journal says.  

“Some had to cancel all planned treatment, while clinics in Kyiv, including the National Cancer Institute, have stopped everything but ongoing chemotherapy.”

“Clinics in western Ukraine have suffered no major interruptions yet but are overwhelmed by the flow of patients fleeing the east and experiencing shortages of basic drugs.” 

The same is true in neighbouring European countries where clinicians are doing their utmost to help Ukrainian refugees.

No cancer patient should experience the disruption and confusion these patients are facing, as they undergo treatment for their cancer.

We strongly agree with affiliated organisations such as the renowned American Society of Clinical Oncology, which said: “Interruption of life-saving cancer care simply adds to the massive pain and needless suffering caused by war”.

We recognise too that Russian patients, affected by sanctions and inflation, also face an uncertain future for their care.

If you have capacity, you can contribute to Doctors Without Borders or Red Cross who are providing emergency medical care on the ground. 

References

*American Cancer Society - https://www.cancer.org/about-us/what-we-do/ukraine-support.html

British Medical Journal - https://www.bmj.com/content/376/bmj.o701

American Society of Clinical Oncology - https://www.asco.org/news-initiatives/policy-news-analysis/asco-stands-with-ukrainian-cancer-community