The Cancer Community Rallies for Ukrainian Patients ECO Communication Team European Cancer Organisation (ECO)
Professor Andreas Charalambous, President of the European Cancer Organisation (ECO) and Co-chair of the Special Network on Ukraine
Dr. Eric Winer, President of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) and Co-chair of the Special Network on Ukraine
Richard Sullivan, MD, PhD, Director of the Institute of Cancer Policy at King’s College, London, UK, and Key Advisor to the Special Network on Ukraine
I
n a country engulfed in so much death and destruction, it can be easy to forget the unique challenges faced by cancer patients in Ukraine. Russia’s unprovoked and indiscriminate attacks have not only left many of these patients homeless, they have destroyed clinics and hospitals that provide essential cancer care. “We realise that everyone in Ukraine is struggling to survive this horror,” said Prof. Andreas Charalambous, President of the European Cancer Organisation (ECO). “But cancer patients face an inescapable truth: their disease will not wait for the shelling to stop. They need treatment now.”
The Special Network on the Impact of the War in Ukraine on Cancer So, with a palpable sense of urgency, ECO with other cancer and health focused international societies banded together to
create the Special Network on the Impact of War in Ukraine on Cancer. “The ECO Board of Directors took this initiative just a week-and-a-half after the invasion began,” said Prof. Charalambous, a Co-chair of the Special Network. “We were unanimous. This is the priority of a lifetime in oncology.” ECO teamed up with the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the European Commission to share intelligence and launch advocacy efforts. Today, the network includes representatives from more than 300 ➤
“...cancer patients face an inescapable truth: their disease will not wait for the shelling to stop. They need treatment now.” Prof Andreas Charalambous, President, European Cancer Organisation
Brain Tumour
7
