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Access to Affordable Breast Cancer Care in Eastern Europe

  • Global Breast Cancer (BO Anderson and C Duggan, Section Editors)
  • Published:
Current Breast Cancer Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose of Review

The majority of Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries report inferior breast cancer survival rates compared with Western European countries. We review limitations in access to screening programs, surgery, radiotherapy, pathology, palliative care, and antineoplastic medicines as potential explanations for these disparities.

Recent Findings

Most CEE countries do not have the quality and quantity of radiotherapy needed to adequately service the population. Surgical services are widely accessible, but sentinel node biopsy is not universally available. There are important limitations for CEE patients in accessing high-quality pathology. Many patients living with advanced cancer are in dire need of palliation services. Important inequalities exist in availability and patient costs, especially for newer, more expensive drugs, across Europe, while drug shortages affect several “essential,” old, and inexpensive drugs.

Summary

Improvements in radiotherapy, surgery, and pathology and access to medicines are needed, together with the provision of trained health care professionals.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Breast Tumors, Cancer Institute “Ion Chiricuta”, Republicii 34-36, 400015, Cluj-Napoca, Romania

    Alexandru Eniu & Nicoleta Antone

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  1. Alexandru Eniu
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Correspondence to Alexandru Eniu.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Global Breast Cancer

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Eniu, A., Antone, N. Access to Affordable Breast Cancer Care in Eastern Europe. Curr Breast Cancer Rep 10, 170–178 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12609-018-0285-8

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