Supporting Ukrainian Radiation Oncology Practitioners in Fight against Two Evils: Cancer and War
ESTRO’s participation in the ECO ASTRO network, and our role in providing support to Ukraine
The Boards of the European Cancer Organization (ECO) and the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) established a Special Network on the Impact of the War in Ukraine on Cancer (Focused Topic Networks (europeancancer.org)). The network aims at supporting the oncology community in Ukraine and its neighboring countries as well as the international response to the emergency caused by the conflict. The network gathers representatives of over 300 organisations. ESTRO is one of the Member Organisations of this Network, represented in the Steering Committee by prof. Umberto Ricardi.
The network gathers intelligence to inform our advocacy and policy work on the issue with the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the European Union (EU) Commission, including from cancer centres: healthcare professionals and patient organisations. A dedicated survey to understand the needs of the oncology community in the area was devised and includes a section dedicated to radiotherapy, in collaboration with ESTRO. In addition, several meetings with international stakeholders are organised, including EU DG SANTE and WHO.
The special network creates a community for sharing of intelligence, experience, contacts and putting ESTRO in contact with the Help Ukraine Group (HUG).
In the article below ESTRO interviewed the HUG to find out what more support is needed for the radiation therapy community in Ukraine.
Supporting Ukrainian Radiation Oncology Practitioners in Fight against Two Evils: Cancer and War
