ESTRO 2024 - Abstract Book

S2758

Interdisciplinary - Global health

ESTRO 2024

compared to previous year. Whereas the chemotherapy services ramped up treatments in the relatively safer western and central Ukraine enabling to treat the patients escaping the war zones, radiotherapy showed minimal absorptive capacity. The situation improved after Ukrainians liberated approximately half of the total occupied territory. Currently, 2 additional RT centers are under occupation and 3 RT centers sustained heavy shelling and equipment damage. Based on the DIRAC survey, compared to 2021 data, in 2022 the number of radiation oncologists decreased on average by 2.9%, medical physicists by 6.7%, and therapists by 6.5% but there was a large variation in staffing levels depending on the region and its proximity to war. The workload in the RT centers close to the combat zone almost halved, while increasing by 10 - 60% in the western and central Ukraine. The total number of patients treated with EBRT decreased by 11% and brachytherapy by 21%. Brachytherapy services sustained the most interruption (47% decrease in LDR and 18% decrease in HDR patient volume) due to inability to perform source exchanges. Overall, approximately 5,500 less patients were treated in 2022 compared to 2021. Despite the ongoing war, Ukrainian cancer centers installed 8 new linear accelerators, with 5 linear accelerators pending installation. In addition, the Ministry of Heath of Ukraine has recently purchased 15 linear accelerators to replace the aging Co-60 machine fleet as the future source exchanges might not be possible. There is an acute need in helping Ukraine transition from Co-60 to modern IMRT/VMAT linear accelerators. Having a session at ESTRO can help to focus the attention on Ukraine and help solicit support for in-person and virtual training in this time of need.

Table 1. Proposed talks on the session:

Conclusion:

Radiotherapy in Ukraine sustained significant damages since the 2014 russian invasion, which was exacerbated further by the full-scale invasion in 2022. To support the vitality and absorptive capacity of RT services in Ukraine, the democratic world can help by donating equipment, hardware, software, and participating in training of Ukrainian RT professionals as they transition to modern and high-quality RT care for Ukrainian cancer patients. During the WWII Remembrance day we always say ‘Never again’, yet the proof of the fragility in this phrase is unraveling right in front of us. Please help us prove that the power of community can make it possible for hope to rise amidst the travesty of war.

Keywords: Ukraine, war, support