Albania: UN fights alarming rise in cancer cases

The IAEA, the United Nations watchdog and World Health Organization have joined forces to try to slow the spread of cancer in Albania, where the number of diagnosed cases has surged in the past two decades. In 1990, Albania recorded only 2,800 new cancer cases. Now, more than 4,000 new cancer cases are diagnosed every year and cancer is second only to cardiovascular diseases as a cause of death.
Albanian health specialists blame the lifestyle changes since the fall of the Communist regime that have significantly increased the risk factors. “Cancer is a multi-factorial disease and the way we live plays a big role,” says Dr. Sallaku, Head of the Oncology Institute. “Changes in lifestyle in Albania over the last 17 yearsأonnected to food, smoking, pollution, physical activity, stress and so onحean significantly increased risk factors.”
Dr. Alban Ylli of the Institute of Public Health and Hygiene admits that there are problems. “The Ministry of Health is trying to keep pace with those expectations, but there are problems”, said Ylli. The main problem is the insufficient capacity and lack of modern drugs and treatment procedures. The country has only one cancer treatment centre (the abovementioned Oncology Institute) serving the country’s 3.6 million people. Its wards are everyday crammed with old patients under medical treatment, new ones waiting to be diagnosed and their families.
In 2006, IAEA through its Programme of Action for Cancer Therapy (PACT) and helped by World Health Organisation, selected Albania as a PACT Model Demonstration Programme (PMDS). The UN organisations hoped that the programme was going to improve the diagnosis and treatment of the patients, or at least alleviate their pains.
The programme is showing its first results. An additional radiotherapy machine from MDS Nordion was delivered to the Mother Teresa Hospital through PACT in coordination with the Agency’s Department of Technical Cooperation (TC). The Albanian government shared the cost of this machine. Last year, IAEA and WHO helped Albania to draft a National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP).
At the same time, Agency’s Department of Technical Cooperation is providing expertise and equipment, and facilitating regional training in fields such as radiation oncology. “Because of the specialized nature of radiation medicine, we are working closely with the government to ensure the Oncology Institute receives full support and that its personnel are competent. Safety is our priority,” says Mikiko Sawanishi, the Technical Cooperation Programme Management Officer for Albania. “PACT’s modality is broader, focusing on all aspects of cancer care and control. I think the two approaches complement each other.”
Albania remains a typically low-income country and more than 70% of all new cancer cases are diagnosed too late for effective treatment. That means that almost 3,000 patients come too late to receive any significant treatment. To make things worse, Albania lacks palliative care services and patients and their families frequently lack any form of specialized end-of-life care or support. Health experts stress the urgent need to focus on raising awareness, prevention and early diagnosis. Moreover, when all hopes are gone, the patients deserve the best palliative service. “In my opinion these are the main challenges we’re facing right now and which we must quickly move towards addressing,” says Dr. Sallaku. “The international organizations can help us a lot in this context. With their support and expertise, and our own energy and determination, we can help people and prevent suffering.” (Tirana Times Staff)