ESTRO 2024 - Abstract Book

S2739

Interdisciplinary - Global health

ESTRO 2024

12, 2023, Ireland has received 74,458 Ukrainian refugees. 4 A portion of this population either currently requires or will require cancer services in Ireland.

Estimating the number of affected patients and assessing their needs is crucial for ensuring adequate logistical support and the equitable allocation of financial resources in the long term. The aim of this study is to describe a single institution’s experience of the impact and challenges on patients and health care practitioners in providing cancer care to this refugee population.

Material/Methods:

Data was obtained from Cork University Hospital’s Oncology Multidisciplinary meetings. A retrospective chart review of patients identified as Ukrainian refugees was conducted. Baseline characteristics of the population, including patient, tumour and treatment characteristics were analysed. This is a Clinical Research Ethical Board approved study.

Results:

31 Ukrainian refugee cancer patients were identified, 87.1% (N=27) female, 12.9% (N=4) male. Median age was 52.2 (range 33 – 78) years. The majority of patients had a breast cancer (N=18, 58%) diagnosis (Figure 1). 11 patients received a new cancer diagnosis in Ireland. Patients’ cancer staging was stage I (N=6), II (N=9), III (N=10) and IV (N=6). 25 (80.6%) patients underwent radical treatment, while 6 received palliative care. The median time from border crossing to the initial engagement with cancer services in Cork for those diagnosed in Ukraine was 14 days (range 2-248 days). 90% (N=28) of patients did not speak English. The majority of patients who came to Ireland with a cancer diagnosis (N=20) were unable to access their imaging (95%, N=19) and pathology (95%, N=19) from Ukraine (Figure 2).