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October 27, 2021 from 14.00 to 15.00 Specialists of the Association of Lung Cancer Patients and Relatives, the National Health Service, Pauls Stradiņš Clinical University Hospital and Riga East Clinical University Hospital will discuss the issue of treatment of lung cancer patients in Latvia.
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Discussion “Lung cancer – how to live on?” The live broadcast will be an opportunity for anyone interested to watch the Lung Cancer Patients and Relatives Association Facebook account or TVNET.
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Lung cancer is one of the most common malignancies in the world and the leading cause of death among oncological diseases. In Latvia, lung cancer is diagnosed every year in more than 1,000 patients, one third of whom are of working age. According to the Center for Disease Prevention and Control (SPCC), 942 people died of lung cancer in 2020, and 265 of them were of working age. As a result, lung cancer is becoming the leading cause of premature death in this group of diseases, causing the greatest economic burden of all malignancies.
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Lung cancer patients in Latvia need more state support in the treatment of oncological disease, which would ensure equal rights for everyone to receive treatment in accordance with international guidelines and increase their chances of prolonging survival. According to oncologist-chemotherapist Dr. Sigita Hasnere, who is also a member of the European Association of Oncologists (ESMO) and the Latvian Association of Chemotherapists, there is a lack of modern reimbursed medicines for the treatment of lung cancer in Latvia. “Often, for patients with a proven specific molecular marker, the state has only provided first-line drugs, but when it comes to second-line drugs, then everything is no longer an option for state-funded innovative drugs. In such cases, the patient is prescribed chemotherapy or should seek to pay for the treatment themselves, ”Reveals Sigita Hasnere.
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It is planned to discuss the possibilities of lung cancer diagnosis, treatment and psycho-emotional support, as well as about state support for lung cancer patients in Latvia. The head of the Association of Lung Cancer Patients and Relatives will raise the issue Harry Gals, oncologist-chemotherapist professor dr. med. Gunta Purkalne, oncologist-chemotherapist doctor Sigita Hasnere, Head of the Service Development Division of the Medical Services Department of the National Health Service Anete Bashkevica, Riga East Clinical University Hospital Laboratory Service Development Project Manager dr. Ģirts Šķenders, Employee of the Cabinet of Psycho-Emotional Support for Oncology Patients and Member of the Board of the Patient Organization Tree of Life Kitija Janele.
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Internationally recognized guidelines for the treatment of lung cancer to improve survival in lung cancer patients with more than 70% of lung cancers recommend immunotherapy.
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In Latvia, according to the guidelines, modern therapy is available to a very limited group of lung cancer patients. On the other hand, it is not possible to receive state-paid line 2 immunotherapy at all. Instead, chemotherapy is provided that does not meet the needs of the individual patient, reduces quality of life, and does not provide efficacy in terms of survival and disease progression. Meanwhile, in Estonia and Lithuania, 2nd line immunotherapy drugs are included in the list of reimbursable drugs from the state budget.
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Providing full immunotherapy reduces premature mortality in lung cancer patients. Which could be particularly important from a national economic point of view, given the economic burden of lung cancer and the number of patients affected. However, there are other aspects that are more important than the economy, such as humane – in patients with metastatic lung cancer, it is medication that is vital for maintaining life functions.
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