Patients with metastatic breast cancer in Cyprus have a better survival rate than the international average, a report compiled by the Bank of Cyprus Oncology Centre revealed on Wednesday.
The findings, after over 400 patients were examined, were presented at an event co-organised by the Bank of Cyprus Oncology Centre and Europa Donna Cyprus.
The focus of the conference was to update health professionals and the public on the latest data regarding metastatic breast cancer, including information on new innovative drugs currently available in the country.
The recent decision of the health insurance organisation (HIO) not to recognise the BOC centre as the first specialised centre offering exclusive oncology services was also brought up, with the BOC board of commissioners chairman Christos Triantafyllides expressing his disappointment over the decision.
“The HIO refused to recognise the accumulated specialised knowledge of the centre, which is the result of 25 years of operation,” the chairman said, adding that “nonetheless we will not let anyone diminish the BOC Centre or affect the level of excellence of the services it provides.”
Scientists from the centre, the American Medical Center, the Nicosia general hospital, Europa Donna Cyprus and Donna Health Care took part in the conference.
EU Commissioner for Health and Food Safety Stella Kyriakidou and the health ministry director general Christina Giannaki also attended the event.
The use of stereotactic radiation therapy in metastatic breast cancer was discussed, as well as the role of local surgical treatment.
The discussion highlighted intense research carried out globally to recognise the specific condition as a chronic disease.