Breast Cancer in Ukraine: The Continuum of Care and Implications for Action

Abstract

This brief summarizes an analysis on the continuum of breast cancer care in two Regions of Ukraine. The study used the cascade framework to determine the continuum from breast cancer screening of eligible women to diagnosis, treatment initiation and completion, as well as follow-up monitoring. It provided insight into the main breakpoints in breast cancer care in Lviv and Poltava Regions, and discusses the implications for action. To do so, it also draws on global lessons on successful screening and early detection of breast cancer. Given the World Bank support project in Ukraine, this analysis provides a baseline against which progress in cancer prevention and screening can be measured. The analysis of care cascades in Ukraine also covered three other disease: cervical cancer, hypertension and diabetes.