Author: Dallandyshe Xhaferri
Last year, 3,430 people lost their lives after failing to win the battle against cancer. Official INSTAT figures show that those who failed to overcome this serious disease represent 11.2% of the population, an estimate that places cancer in the fourth largest group of causes of death.
In the 'Tumors' group, the highest percentage is occupied by the subgroup of 'malignant tumors of the digestive system', with 35,2% and 'malignant tumors of the respiratory system' with 23,7%," the INSTAT report states. Oncologist-gynecologist, Euglent Hoxha reiterates for "Sinjalizo" that during 1 year, about 100 young women are diagnosed with uterine, cervical and ovarian cancer in the country. But according to the publications of the Ministry of Health for the annual report for 2021, the cervical cancer screening service is covered for 14,000 women, while the breast cancer screening service is covered for 5000 women.
" The mortality rate for the 'Tumor' disease group is 151,9 deaths for men and 92,3 deaths for women per 100 thousand inhabitants ," says the INSTAT publication, while according to the Ministry of Health and Social Protection , 1 in 8 women are diagnosed with breast cancer.
Lives changed
For Alice, Pink October is cancer awareness month and she doesn't look at it with indifference like before. She had a suitcase full of dreams. " A ticket to Florence, an Albanian passport and a suitcase full of clothes for all four seasons ", this was the curly-haired girl's vision for starting a new life in Italy. A week before she traveled to this new chapter, another gloomy chapter awaited the 21-year-old. The news was announced by the doctors who diagnosed her with a tumor.
" There I realized that the real challenges awaited me on my own land, not across the sea ," recalls Alisa, a 21-year-old girl who caught everything at the right time and succeeded, for "Sinjalizo." She had not seen so many messages about mammography and awareness until the day she came out of the "world" of dreams and discovered that the tumor was in her body.
Today, the headscarf with green flowers has replaced the curls flowing down the back. But it has not faded at all the smile that accompanies Alisa during the signaling about the 'forgetfulness' of patients affected by the tumor in the other 11 months of the year.
" On the morning of February 18, I went to the emergency room in Tirana after having had a high fever and severe abdominal pain for four days ," says Alisa, who admits that although these pains had accompanied her for months, she had never gone to the health center until they became unbearable. " I didn't go for a visit even though I felt something was wrong with my body, but I live in a small village in Tirana and I was afraid of the reaction of others ," she explains.
" The doctor who did my ultrasound gave me a recommendation to go to the maternity ward, because he didn't like the size of the mass he saw inside me. But I went to a private clinic, " she says, adding that " the test results are explained more accurately when the doctor is paid directly by the patient ." " I had the surgery to remove the tumor mass at 'Kirurgji 1-shi' after almost a week of being hospitalized ," she adds, emphasizing that the low white blood cell count did not help the doctors understand what stage the tumor mass was in.
A war that requires money
" The operation was successful and then I underwent 4 chemotherapy sessions," says Alisa, who admits that " the fight of her life cost her almost 5 million old lek ."
" At the QSUT, the doctors were very close, but my parents were worried about whether or not I would receive the proper care, so they paid between 5 and 20 lek every day to the nurses, doctors and sanitation workers, " she says, adding that her mother's sentence " take a good look at my daughter " accompanied her during the 7 months of intensive treatment.
" I didn't pay anything for the treatments I received inside the hospital building, but to get into the scanner without waiting in line I paid 100 old lek ," says Alisa, who admits that she had to buy expensive medications that were not available at the hospital.
"' Blemisin' was very difficult to find in the hospital," she underlines, adding that she was also unable to obtain it legally in some pharmacies in the capital . "With great difficulty I managed to find it illegally, without the official stamp placed by the Albanian authorities ," she says, adding that just 2 vials of this medication cost her 100 thousand old lek, which cannot be reimbursed.
" After each session, I had my whole body tested, which cost up to 100 old lek, while to increase the number of white blood cells, I bought a medication for 50 lek ," she concludes.
Contraband and refund
According to oncologist Artan Çomo, the purchase of contraband medications, besides being a criminal offense, is also a risk for patients.
" The hospital's treatments are approved by the WHO and the Organization of Oncologists, we, as a state, have been following the same treatment scheme as Western countries for years ," says Çomo, emphasizing that state-owned medications are controlled and reimbursable, unlike those that can be purchased on the black market.
On the other hand, Donjeta Zeqa, President of the Albanian branch of "Europa Donna" where Albania is a member with 46 European countries, tells "Sinjalizo" that 7 years ago she found another solution. Zeqa's efforts are related to advocacy and lobbying about breast cancer.
“ My first contact with breast cancer was over 20 years ago, when my aunt was diagnosed,” says Zeqa, who claims that “ the experience was traumatic and the information was very limited .” “What hit me the most was my mother’s diagnosis 12 years ago ,” she adds, claiming that both women in her life managed to win the fight against cancer, but even after all these years, the cooperation of state institutions with organizations that focus on the same topics is not at the right level.
" They need to be real supporters and work with organizations, not 'fear' them, " says Zeqa, emphasizing that organizations should be part of the tables where decisions are made for patients, " as it is the only way for everyone to work together for a single goal : the patient ," she concludes, indicating that the demands of women and girls who turn to this organization for wigs are greater than they can fulfill.
Oncologist: Mammograms must be performed
" All girls and women between the ages of 18 and 20 should do a self-examination in the first week of menstruation ," says oncologist Artan Çomo, who emphasizes that breast cancer is a complex disease, as cancerous cells can remain hidden for 7 to 9 years.
" When the cell is under 0.5 centimeters, the patient is unable to detect it, but when the size reaches 1 centimeter, every woman can detect it ," he says, explaining that self-examination can be done in front of a mirror, in the shower, or lying down.
" This disease can last for years, so we must abandon the mindset that these formations are associated with pain and that 'it is better not to disturb the mass' ," he explains, indicating that 700 women in the country are diagnosed with breast cancer each year, but the majority end successfully.
" The earlier the disease, the less expensive the treatment regimens ," explains Çomo, emphasizing that in the early stages, when the cells are not aggressive, local removal of the mass can be performed and the anatomical function of the breast can be preserved.
" As an oncologist, I insist that mammography should be mandatory for women who have more pronounced risk factors ," says Çomo, adding that some of these factors may be "first menstruation that comes very early, last menstruation that comes late, pregnancy over the age of 35, and uncontrolled use of contraceptives."
" Here we can also include the genetic disorder (mutation) BRCA1 and BRCA2," concludes Çomo, indicating that in Albania, examination for this disorder can still only be done in private clinics and cannot be reimbursed by the state.
