On the occasion of World Cancer Day, experts and representatives of patient associations on Monday warned about so-called rare tumors, from which approximately 4.3 million people fall ill annually in the European Union, with 4,715 newly diagnosed patients with rare malignant tumors discovered each year in Croatia, and the five-year survival rate is far worse than for common tumors.
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“Of all malignant diseases, rare tumors account for 22 percent. The five-year survival of patients is far worse than for common tumors – among adults with rare tumors, the five-year survival is 47 percent, while for common types of tumors it is 65 percent,” emphasized Sanja Pleština, head of the Rare Tumors Department at the Jordanovac Clinic for Lung Diseases, KBC Zagreb, at a press conference.
The number of bladder cancer patients is increasing.
Worse results in the treatment of rare tumors, she emphasized, are a consequence of late accurate diagnosis, less experience in treatment and appropriate therapies, and due to the small number of patients, there are fewer clinical studies and less interest in developing new therapeutic options.
Marija Gamulin from the Oncology Clinic of KBC Zagreb particularly highlighted the problem of bladder cancer, as the number of new cases is increasing in Croatia, unlike in Europe. Bladder cancer is the fifth most common site of malignant cancer in men in our country, with 757 men and 248 women diagnosed each year.
Croatia is among the five countries with the worst five-year survival rates for lung cancer (10 percent), prostate (81 percent), stomach (20 percent), colon (51 percent), rectum (48 percent), and myeloid leukemia in adults (32 percent).
Gamulin pointed out that patients with metastatic bladder cancer do not have satisfactory therapeutic options, as even two-thirds of them do not receive therapy. “The first major breakthrough after 30 years in treating patients with metastatic bladder cancer is immunotherapy, which has been approved in the European Union, and a national early detection program for high-risk populations should also be established,” she stated.
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Snježana Tomić from the Clinical Institute of Pathology and Forensic Medicine at KBC Split emphasized the importance of genetic testing, i.e., precision medicine in oncology, which is a new approach in treating oncology patients aimed at linking new knowledge about tumor pathogenesis with very precise targeted therapy.
“Today we know that most or almost all tumors arise as a result of changes in the genes themselves or changes in the regulation of their function. Genomic profiling of tumors can provide patients with treatment options that may potentially result in better disease outcomes,” says Tomić.
She adds that even in patients where no gene changes have been found or for which clinically relevant therapies are not yet available, knowing that they have done absolutely everything in search of adequate targeted therapy can be reassuring.
The importance of psychological support for patients.
The Secretary General of the association “Everything for Her” Ljiljana Vukota emphasized the importance of psychological support for patients in coping with illness, during treatment and rehabilitation, and returning to society, as well as the importance of psychological support for family members facing cancer.
In terms of colorectal cancer survival, we are at the very bottom, and in terms of breast cancer survival, we are in the lower third of European countries. These are sites for which organized early detection programs exist, but unfortunately, there is no satisfactory response, especially for colorectal cancer, warns Mario Šekerija, head of the Cancer Registry and research collaborator.
“Psychological assistance to patients, caregivers, and family members must be integrated into supportive treatment for malignant diseases, along with alleviating the side effects of oncological therapy, tailored nutrition, and palliative care and support,” she said.
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World Cancer Day is celebrated every year to raise public awareness about cancer diseases, prevention, early diagnosis, and treatment of the disease, as well as care for the afflicted.
“This year’s observance of World Cancer Day by patient associations is dedicated to rare tumors, primarily because individuals suffering from them cannot seek support from patient associations with similar diseases. All information about their illness can only be obtained within the healthcare system, which still does not have satisfactory communication with patients, so most information must be sought elsewhere,” emphasized Ivica Belina, president of the Coalition of Health Associations.
